What Has Harvey Done for the Anti-Hunger Relief Groups

Now anti-hunger groups are taking advantage of Harvey’s disastrous impact to Houston’s greatly impoverished communities, asking for more donations and financial support in order to provide hunger relief to those most poorly affected. Although I believe there is a dire and significant need for the goodwill of communities, coming together in times of crisis and helping to feed each other, I do not necessarily appreciate the upsurge of anti-hunger groups aiming to grow their bank accounts or capitalize on an issue which cannot be solved at its core through charitable giving. If you missed my interview with Andrew Fisher about his book, Big Hunger: The Unholy Alliance Between Corporate America and Anti‑Hunger Groups, you’ll find more information about the darkside to the anti-hunger movement in Amercia.

According to the USDA website, the “USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service has issued special procedures that give all states flexibility in providing expedited Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to families who have evacuated their homes and moved outside the State of Texas as a result of Hurricane Harvey.” Read full press release here.

HISD Students Will Receive Free Meals All Year by Houston Press

USDA waivers granted to the Houston Independent School District, in the wake of recent flooding, will allow all students to receive free school meals during the upcoming school year. “Some of the areas that are the hardest hit are filled with working parents whose limited funds will need to go toward recovery efforts,” said Richard Carranza, the district’s superintendent, in a news release. “This waiver will give our families one less concern as they begin the process of restoring their lives.”

Happy 50th Anniversary to the Kitchen Aid that Killed Cooking

I understand the microwave has been successfully marketed as a convenient tool for soccer moms and high-powered professionals looking to save time in the kitchen amidst their busy lives. And yet, it is often just as quick, and certainly more delicious, to turn on the toaster oven and/or skillet to heat up last night’s leftovers! Find the right window of opportunity, and the appropriate series of steps to operate effienctly, and you could have sizzling hot food without the unintended (more specifically, unknown) side affects of zapping your food day after day. Need I even mention the nutrient-deficient microwavable meals lining shelves of the frozen section??? EW.

“It [the microwave] was called the “Radarange” because of a happy accident by an engineer who was working for the defense contractor Raytheon in the 1940s. Percy Spencer was using a magnetron, a device that generates the radio waves that are at the heart of radar technology. When he turned on the magnetron, he noticed that the candy bar in his front pocket was starting to melt.” – NPR, the Salt

Fat Bias Starts Early and Takes a Serious Toll by NY Times

“Decades ago, researchers found that weight-based bias, which is often accompanied by overt discrimination and bullying, can date back to childhood, sometimes as early as age 3…The prejudiced feelings may not be apparent to those who hold them, yet they can strongly influence someone’s behavior. A new study by researchers at Duke University, for example, found that “implicit weight bias” in children ages 9 to 11 was as common as “implicit racial bias” is among adults.” – NY Times

“The number of overweight and obese individuals in the United States has steadily increased over the last decade (CDC, 2012). According to the Food Research and Action Center, over two-thirds of adults in the United States are either overweight or obese (2010).” Read the full-length study about weight-bias and anti-fat attitudes here at Inquiries Journal.

Dance Away Food Waste! Join Food Tank’s Free Dance and Music Experience

“On September 14, Food Tank is sponsoring a free dance fitness experience in conjunction with the NYC Parks Department called Garjana. The event will take place at Washington Square Park from 12:00pm to 1:30pm—participants can register by clicking here. Garjana, a new dance workout created by Food Tank, features an all-Broadway cast with choreography from Mamma Mia’s Monica Kapoor, along with all-original music from Douglas Romanow, whose credits include Justin Bieber and Tyga, and visuals from award-winning film and television director Kevin Arbouet.” – Food Tank