Dear F&N learners,
Below is an extract from the video "Supersize Me". This extract shows a very interesting comparison amongst the decomposition (breaking down) of various types of fast food.
Highlighted in the video were french fries from a popular fast food restaurant, which did not decompose as fast as the rest. They appeared fresh-looking despite several weeks of being placed in the jar. Note that french fries are deep-fried and have the highest percentage of fats. I gather what the director Morgan Spurlock is trying to relate is that:
1)We need to know what makes up our food. What causes the french fries to remain fresh-looking?
2)Note that in all the fast foods used, fats do not break down as easily as the other nutrients found in the food (thus our body cannot break down fats easily too).
Though this may not be a perfect experiment, still it is interesting to note that high fat foods are harmful to our health. Happy viewing!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Brown Sugar Vs. White Sugar
Picture 1: Brown Sugar Crystals
Photo credits: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Brown_sugar_crystals.JPG
Dear 3N2 2009,
The below url link is a write-up on brown sugar, to answer further in detail on Jek Keat's question in class during the last practical lesson (choc chip cookies) on Fri 23 Jan 2009.
Link to read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_sugar
Have fun learning.
Cheerios,
Ms. Tang
Global Food Trends
We as consumers, have shaped what we are eating today. Read on to find out some consumer food trends happening now. Credits: http://www.fonterra.com/wps/wcm/connect/fonterracom/fonterra.com/Our+Products/Dairy+and+Nutrition/Global+Food+Trends
Some of the key consumer trends are:
Indulgence
There has been a move in developed countries for consumers to indulge themselves with luxury products. These products are not necessarily high in calories, but are exciting and experiential. For many this is a treat or reward for sticking to a healthier lifestyle. For example, as a reward for being healthy all week, people choose to treat themselves with more decadent food such as icecream or frozen yoghurt over the weekend.
Healthier Snacking
There has been a move toward healthier snacks in between meals. Afternoon tea is no longer the preserve of unhealthy cakes and biscuits. Healthier snacks are in vending machines. In New Zealand, the government has announced it wants soft drinks out of schools by 2009 and in the US, the beverage industry has agreed to remove all non-diet sort drinks from schools over the next two years. Single serve snacks, nutrition bars, protein bars and mineral waters are increasingly popular.
Food on the go
Busy lifestyles, increasing single person households and apartment living mean people want food on the go, they want it instantly, pre packaged and convenient. The supermarket these days is increasingly used like a pantry or fridge with people making up their minds on the way home from work what they want for dinner. In developed countries nearly 50 per cent of adults shop everyday or several times a week, up from around 30 per cent in 1997 (The World Market for Health and Wellness Products, Euromonitor Report, November 2005).
Dining out
People are eating out more – foodservice is a very important and growing market. For example, some commentaries state that some Americans spend nearly half their food budget in restaurants. In Singapore, according to the National Nutrition Survey 2004, almost half (49.3%) of adult Singaporeans have their meals at hawker centers six or more times per week.
Pointers from Ms Tang: So F&N students, how do you think all these trends can affect one's health and diet? Are they all good or all bad?
Please look through this link which I've found: http://pacifichealthsummit.org/downloads/Obesity%20Prevention%20and%20Control%20Efforts%20in%20Singapore%20-%202008%20Case%20Study.pdf. This link talks about Health Promotion Board's efforts in 2008 for Obesity Prevention
and Control Efforts in Singapore. An interesting read and research for coursework.
Cheerios,
Ms. Tang
Some of the key consumer trends are:
Indulgence
There has been a move in developed countries for consumers to indulge themselves with luxury products. These products are not necessarily high in calories, but are exciting and experiential. For many this is a treat or reward for sticking to a healthier lifestyle. For example, as a reward for being healthy all week, people choose to treat themselves with more decadent food such as icecream or frozen yoghurt over the weekend.
Healthier Snacking
There has been a move toward healthier snacks in between meals. Afternoon tea is no longer the preserve of unhealthy cakes and biscuits. Healthier snacks are in vending machines. In New Zealand, the government has announced it wants soft drinks out of schools by 2009 and in the US, the beverage industry has agreed to remove all non-diet sort drinks from schools over the next two years. Single serve snacks, nutrition bars, protein bars and mineral waters are increasingly popular.
Food on the go
Busy lifestyles, increasing single person households and apartment living mean people want food on the go, they want it instantly, pre packaged and convenient. The supermarket these days is increasingly used like a pantry or fridge with people making up their minds on the way home from work what they want for dinner. In developed countries nearly 50 per cent of adults shop everyday or several times a week, up from around 30 per cent in 1997 (The World Market for Health and Wellness Products, Euromonitor Report, November 2005).
Dining out
People are eating out more – foodservice is a very important and growing market. For example, some commentaries state that some Americans spend nearly half their food budget in restaurants. In Singapore, according to the National Nutrition Survey 2004, almost half (49.3%) of adult Singaporeans have their meals at hawker centers six or more times per week.
Pointers from Ms Tang: So F&N students, how do you think all these trends can affect one's health and diet? Are they all good or all bad?
Please look through this link which I've found: http://pacifichealthsummit.org/downloads/Obesity%20Prevention%20and%20Control%20Efforts%20in%20Singapore%20-%202008%20Case%20Study.pdf. This link talks about Health Promotion Board's efforts in 2008 for Obesity Prevention
and Control Efforts in Singapore. An interesting read and research for coursework.
Cheerios,
Ms. Tang
Monday, January 26, 2009
How Cheese is Made
This video shows how cheese is manufactured from milk.
Credits: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/263363/how_its_made_cheese/
How It's Made - Cheese - Funny home videos are a click away
Cheerios,
Ms. Tang
Credits: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/263363/how_its_made_cheese/
How It's Made - Cheese - Funny home videos are a click away
Cheerios,
Ms. Tang
Nutritional Tools by Health Promotion Board
Picture 1: The Singapore Healthy Diet Pyramid
These are several url links for your reference.
1. Singapore Healthy Diet Pyramid. This pyramid indicates the four types of food groups and serving portions which a normal Singaporean should take.
URL: http://www.hpb.gov.sg/hpb/default.asp?pg_id=1015
2. Recommended Daily Dietary Allowances (RDDA) For Normal Children and Teenagers in Singapore. This RDDA allocates the different amounts of nutrients which the Singaporean child and teen should take.
URL: http://www.hpb.gov.sg/hpb/default.asp?pg_id=1407
3. RDDA For Normal Adults in Singapore. This RDDA allocates the different amounts of nutrients which the Singaporean adult should take.
URL: http://www.hpb.gov.sg/hpb/default.asp?pg_id=1402
4. Singapore Nutritional Dietary Guidelines. A set of dietary guidelines for Singaporeans to follow.
URL: http://www.hpb.gov.sg/hpb/default.asp?pg_id=865&aid=282
Cheerios,
Ms. Tang
Singapore Health Promotion Board
This is a Singapore website which provides nutritional information for all. Examples include nutritional tools such as the Healthy Diet Pyramid, Recommended Daily Dietary Allowances (RDA), Singapore Dietary Guidelines. Visit http://www.hpb.gov.sg/hpb/default.asp?pg_id=776 for more information.
Cheerios,
Ms. Tang
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