Greg Duncan

His previous columns are archived HERE.

GREG DUNCAN

Food Rant to start the year off right

Perhaps it is no wonder the biggest food trend for 2008 will likely focus on healthy products low in fat and sugar and, in general, less processed. (We hope).

The issue will be whether we can adjust out palates and wallets to accommodate. After all, our collective demand for instant taste gratification via oily, salty, fatty, and overly sweet foods has been a long time in the making. This renewed trend toward healthy and super foods will come at a hefty price but we need to embrace the concept for our well-being and local economies.

We have become accustomed to buying cheap imported foods and produce all through the year and we cringe when the price of bananas goes over 29 cents per pound. We want a loaf of bread for a dollar and lettuce for 79 cents. In fact, we want everything for under a dollar.

Folks will pay 20 dollars for supplements to "get their greens" but generally balk at paying higher prices for locally produced food items. Big box food retailers say that consumers won't pay these costs and the circle goes round and round.

Unfortunately, our farmers are thus forced to grow fuel-producing and oil-based crops such as corn for ethanol and rapeseed (Canola) for oil to survive. We are not allowed to buy eggs, milk, or meat directly from them, either.

How then are we to support the concept of eco friendly, healthy, locally produced foods?

I've complied a list of "in" and "out" foods for 2008 in no particular order. Some products remain somewhere in between.

Cell phone restaurant coupons delivered by Google will be in
Blueberries are in between
Oatmeal is definitely in
Red wine is in between
Beans are in
Korean food will be in
Multi colored cauliflower is in between
Pea shoots are in
Ethical eating within 100 kms or less is in
Soft drinks are definitely out
Bottled water is out
Goji Berries are in between
Cranberries are big time in
Tomatoes are in
Whole milk is out
Skim mill is in
Soy milk is still in
Brown rice is in
White rice is out
Whole-wheat pasta is in
Chicken nuggets are out
Sweet Potatoes are in
Oven fries are out
Wild salmon is in
Farmed salmon is out
Splenda is in
Sugar is out
Omega3 is in everything
Low fat sugar free yogurt is in
Organic anything is in
Transfats are way out
Woks are in
Lemon zest is in
Sorbet is in
Frozen Yogurt is in
Pop Tarts are out
Tea is in
Coffee is out
Samosas are in
70% fish based dog food is in

I could not pass up the opportunity to reveal the top food-related things that bothered me throughout 2007. Lets hope there is improvement in 2008, people.

Rachel Ray's constant use of EVOO, Yum-O, Delish and Awesome, Sammies and Stoup Repeats of Restaurant Makeover on the Food Network.

Green bananas that turn black before ripening.

Restaurants that only serve sweetened iced tea. Unsweetened does not exist in Canada, apparently.

Mega-chef Gordon Ramsay's use of the F- word every 2 (expletive) minutes.

Omega 3 added to everything, including Omega 3.

A smoke-billowing mechoui in the local IGA parking lot every weekend and an annoying (expletive) woman who does not understand when I take a pass on the ham. Don't you recognize me yet?

Can't escape our grocery store without having to pass by yet another (expletive) fundraising group of hockey rink rats.

Items marked on sale but really are not according to the scanner.

Door to door solicitors selling restaurant and entertainment coupon books during "family nap time."

Pop Tarts are now only available "frosted."

"Canadian" products that come from China.