Comments for Jane Black

Comment on It’s (not) food access, stupid by Julia

Julia — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:35:19 +0000

Having read the study, I completely disagree with your conclusions. According to the findings, “at least 60% of families are satisfied with their grocery stores when it comes to providing quality, variety and stocked healthy groceries.” Which means that 40% are not. Although technically 60% can be called “most,” it seems less than ideal. Additionally, “1 in 4 families report skipping healthy purchases often or always due to price.” In my opinion this does not indicate good access.I agree that education could make a vast difference in the health of some of these families, but if there is not enough money or time to create healthy well-balanced meals there is little that will chnage. Hunger is a poverty issue. Families that are under financial stress will continue to struggle with the reality of putting nutritious food on their tables with any kind of regularity. Having a grocery store right next door isn’t going to solve the problem.

Comment on It’s (not) food access, stupid by Fleur

Fleur — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:32:21 +0000

I’m not sure I entirely buy the concept of a food desert.

However, I’m surprised that the study didn’t look at transportation as a barrier to healthy eating. If you live in a place where public transportation is so-so or nonexistent, and you don’t have a car, transportation would have to be a barrier at times.

If I didn’t have a car and it was 10 degrees out with a couple feet of snow on the ground…I would think that would affect one’s desire/ability to shop at the food outlets with the healthiest choices.

Comment on It’s (not) food access, stupid by Grace @Eatdinner

Grace @Eatdinner — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:34:00 +0000

Thanks for writing this. It’s important to call out that healthy family meals, cooked at home can be affordable. The study shows that low-income families cooking healthy meals is not “theoretical” — they are actually cooking at home and, perhaps more importantly, value healthy eating. But I disagree that this makes it a “more complicated” problem. Improving healthy food access is not exactly easy, despite the Wal-mart promise, and will not actually make a difference unless those healthy foods are actually purchased and cooked by families.

I think we have to focus resources on improving skills of parents and young adults at all income levels (skills of cooking, planning, shopping) so that meals at home can be the norm, almost (!) as easy as fast food and way more healthy and satisfying.

Comment on It’s (not) food access, stupid by Sandra Kay Miller

Sandra Kay Miller — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:20:02 +0000

Well put, Jane. However, just because a person or family has access to healthy, locally produced foods doesn’t always mean they’ll choose it. To my great dismay, yesterday I witnessed a fellow farmer who attends several of the premier farmers markets in the region grocery shopping. Given their access to incredibly healthy foods, their cart was loaded with ultra-processed foods full of HFCS and transfats. You can lead a horse to water…..

Comment on Paula Deen’s missed opportunity by Renee White

Renee White — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:58:36 +0000

The comments from the likes of Kenneth, Kimberly, and Andrea prove the sad mind set of self righteous people who blame others for all their problems. If you are a diabetic, of course you can’t blame yourself, you blame the TV cook for not being a vegan….please, spare me. If you are dumb enough to think that Paula Dean’s cooking is healthy, then you have more problems that diabeties. But you will probably just blame me for pointing that out..I say good day to you.

Comment on Paula Deen’s missed opportunity by Noah

Noah — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:29:15 +0000

Jane, as usual you are thoughtful and right on the money. But missing opportunity?! Nothing beats the concept of a celebrity marketing the cure while simultaneously sponsoring the ills. Brilliant!

Comment on Paula Deen’s missed opportunity by Maria

Maria — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:54:28 +0000

Why do all of you (and evidently America) think Paula ‘owes’ you anything? She’s a TV personality. I love watching her but I don’t cook like her. How many of you leaving comments do? I’d bet none! If you don’t like that she didn’t become America’s savior, don’t watch her shows or buy her books. She is an individual with all the freedoms given to us – same as you. I’m a diabetic, courtesy of willfull overeating of pizza, candy & fast food and any other thing I felt like cramming in my mouth. I have to fix that & no amount of regret on Paula Deen’s part for entertaining me with her shows will make an iota of difference. She owes me NOTHING! No apology, no change in her lifestyle, no refusal of pharmaceutical drug money! If you want to make a difference, go teach a diabetic friend how to cook & eat. You all seem to know how to do that.

Comment on Paula Deen’s missed opportunity by Linda West Eckhardt

Linda West Eckhardt — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:16:53 +0000

Paula Deen’s brain is scrambled by CARB syndrome, a reversible, curable ailment that results from eating too many sugars, processed carbs. she can’t make a good decision, because she’s been subjected to bad information – but oh that lovely money she’s gonna get from the pharma corporate sponsor. I figure she’s gonna live fast, die young, and leave a beautiful memory. Her choice. Not mine. I choose unprocessed organic foods, eat low on the glycemic index and avoid most carbs. It works. See my book “The High Protein Cookbook”, Clarkson Potter. Linda Eckhardt, James Beard award winning cookbook author

Comment on Paula Deen’s missed opportunity by A Surprise Friday Buffet – Dig In!

A Surprise Friday Buffet – Dig In! — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:59:54 +0000

[...] out are by Tom Philpott (taking issue with the particular diabetes drug Deen will be hawking); Jane Black (wishing Deen would use her illness to everyone’s benefit instead of only her own) and this [...]

Comment on Paula Deen’s missed opportunity by Foodisphere Erupts Over Paula Deen Diabetes Announcement | Tasty Terminus

Foodisphere Erupts Over Paula Deen Diabetes Announcement | Tasty Terminus — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:51:44 +0000

[...] the sanest reaction to this whole scenario was Jane Black’s, noting that celebrities can have a real effect on the treatment and perception of disease: Deen, [...]