Monday, May 14, 2012

What could be worse than pink slime?

Some of the lunches they serve to kids in Scotland, apparently. And a tad pinch of censorship.

The Huffington Post alerted me to "NeverSeconds," a blog written by nine-year-old Martha Payne, who has been chronicling the rather yucky-looking lunches she is served at Lochgilphead Primary School 

Just like mum makes...? (Courtesy of NeverSeconds)
Certainly, no one can last the day on three slices of cucumber, a small bare cheeseburger, two croquettes (like fat French fries) and a damn Popsicle. Payne is supported by her parents and has gotten permission from her school to photograph the meals, which she pays two pounds for every day. She rates the dinners based on how healthy and filling they are on the blog, and has received over 300,000 hits (and a tweet to her dad from Jamie Oliver).

After Martha's interview on BBC ran (it begins around 29:00 on the link), the council in charge of school meals blocked her blog from the public sector it runs across Arglye and Butte in Scotland. I don't think they understand how well-read this young girl's blog is. One of the councilors also accused her and her parents of lying, and claimed Martha chose to put only certain foods on her plate and complain. I don't know why this young girl would want to deliberately falsify info. Seems like something her school may want to do, though! At any rate, some members of the council are going to visit the school tomorrow and try the lunch there. I'm eager to see what they are given to eat. Will it be better than standard fare? Most definitely. I need to brush up on my UK censorship laws, because this seems to be quite unfair.

Here there be nastiness!

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Food moment: Wendy's new macaroni and cheese (and other things).



Mmmmm...you know when it's real(ly unhealthy)! (Courtesy of the Huffington Post/Wendy's).
Wendy's has been heavily advertising its new "signature sides" -- chili cheese fries (they ripped off of Skyline!), baked sweet potatoes (no me gustan) and macaroni and cheese, a food which I enjoy but can only get at KFC these days. Some Burger King and Arby's locations have Kraft mac, but it's like those small microwavable bowls that are low on taste and high on convenience -- I don't ever ask for them.

I was thinking about it all day and decided to give it a try. I think I got a slightly outdated version of the mac and cheese -- the manager didn't have enough of the stock up front to serve me, so he put some fresher stuff on top, and topped it with cheddar cheese.

Still, I rate it higher than KFC's rather bland version, as well as whatever microwaved Kraft specials you get at Arby's or BK. So I suppose it's my number one fast food MNC choice. For something in a paper bowl served to me out of a small trough, it was tasty.

Many fast food restaurants seem to be making a change this summer -- Burger King rolled out new salads, chicken strips and wraps, and cold smoothies and frappes. To make your new choices even worse for you, they added two new dipping sauces (King Kung Pao and Roasted Jalapeno BBQ) and new dressings (Apple Cider Vinaigrette, Avocado Ranch, Citrus Caesar Vinaigrette and Lite Honey Balsamic -- made by Ken's). Having worked for BK, I have sampled most of these items. They're good, yeah, but not really different from what you would find across the way.

Some of these items and ideas look like they belong under golden arches! (Courtesy of BK)
This summer, I hear tell BK will be trying two new types of barbecue toppings (to put on Whoppers or the Tendercrisp and Tendergrill chicken sandwiches), sweet potato fries, regular and berry lemonade and the BACON SUNDAE. I am looking forward to the bacon sundae, obviously, and maybe the lemonade...but really, is there anything there that's out of the ordinary? Even Denny's has done the bacon sundae.


Arby's is also advertising a new Pecan Chicken Salad and a new Orange Cream Shake -- their Market Fresh sandwiches are expensive, but a little different from your regular fast food options. They always have a different twist on fast food.


As for McDonald's...well, I heard they are trying some banana blueberry oatmeal (bleargh), and have rolled out a fancy new drink...


What's that green thing? (Courtesy of CouponGeek)
That's right...it's an Icee!


Oh, what? It's made with real fruit juice? And...more than just berries and cherries?


Hm.


Of course, McDonald's doesn't really need to shake things up this summer. They've got enough money to last them a loooong time.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Pretty sure Barack Obama broke the Internet today when he announced that he supported gay marriages -- as a personal statement, mind, so no one go crying about how he is trying to force you to accept the homos.

I have my doubts that if he had said it a day earlier, it would have changed much in North Carolina...but I kind of wish he had.

Thoughts? Enjoy this interesting demographic on gay rights in the US from the UK's The Guardian. The writers were probably all shaking their heads as they compiled this....