Tag: Food

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brand consulting insights

On marketing, advertising, and ethics: Five rules for my work.

English: The Centre for Pharmacy and Health Re...
English: The Centre for Pharmacy and Health Research, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I recently saw this article in Global Edmonton about the ethical questions raised in children being targeted by ads for unhealthy foods.

“‘Kids are getting exposed to about seven ads for unhealthy foods and beverages every hour when they’re watching television,’ explained Kim Raine, a professor at the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta. “We know that it’s associated with their demands for foods, for their preferences, for their consumption and it is associated with childhood obesity,” Raine added.”

(from http://www.globaltvedmonton.com/u+of+a+
researchers+want+to+see+an+end+to+unhealthy
+food+and+beverage+ads+targeted+at+children
/6442834174/story.html)

It reminded me that as a designer, technologist, teacher and trainer, that I am responsible to my audience to not only benefit them, but to specifically not try to bring them harm. I have changed the channel in disgust many times when I’ve seen my own kids targeted in unhealthy advertising during kid’s television programming time, and have thought to myself that it is shameful. However, no rules exist now to prevent the practice.   Others still wonder why an obesity epidemic exists. I have no question about the issue; it’s very clear to me. It underlines the importance for me to make sure that my work does at least these five things:

Five rules of ethics for my work

  1. Do no harm. By this I mean that I ask myself in any consultation or presentation if anything I am saying is potentially doing any harm to anyone involved or promoting my own biases at the cost of other valid possibilities. Clients sometimes ask me to make designs that debase or reduce women, minorities, and opponents of all kinds. I refuse the work immediately. 
  2. Speak the closest thing possible to truth. Truth is relative, and is subject to our experiences, research, and facts observed and believed. I was once asked to make a border for a flier in which I was to camouflage a legally mandated support statement, e.g. “Paid for by so-and-so” in such a way that a court would not be able to argue that the statement was not made, but also so that a viewer of the flier would not immediately know who paid for the flier. I refused the job outright, and I made the right decision.
  3. Be kind. Sometimes clients ask me to write, present, or share information in such a way as to support the client and deprecate a competitor. In each of these cases, I have worked to convince the client that it is better to make friends, share commonalities, and find unity. In cases where I was not able to convince the client, I walked away.
  4. Leave the world better than you found it. There is likely lots of money in convincing people that sugary, fatty foods are good or redeeming in some way. I would rather be poor than know that I helped to slowly kill someone by convincing them of this. There are many other examples of this that come to mind, but I imagine that all you have to do to see them is to turn on a TV.
  5. Maintain transparency. If the product that I am working to promote in a design is a good one, with few flaws and lots of benefits, then I should be able to say/show everything that I know about it. In situations where I’ve been subtly nudged to ignore a potentially dangerous issue, social malady, or falsehood about a design topic, I try to find ways to work with the client to be clear, honest, and transparent about all the realities of the situation. Otherwise, it will be difficult for me to take part.

Without ethics, integrity, honesty, benefits, and clarity, I will find it difficult to live with myself. No payday is worth losing these things.

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photography

Loose Tea Review: Ujinotsuyu Genmaicha Tokuyo

genmaicha-tea
genmaicha-tea
genmaicha-tea
genmaicha-tea

This genmaicha tea from ujinotsuyu is traditionally called ‘the people’s tea‘ and combines green tea and toasted rice, the rice being a kind of filler to make the tea less expensive, though it also gives the brew a distinct flavor which is surprising to anyone who’s only ever had tea or rice separately. It’s also called popcorn tea because some kernels of rice can pop in the toasting process.

The color of the brew is typically a light yellow, but I thought it was reminiscent of flat mountain dew, a very neon green.

The flavor is subtle, nutty, and tastes of brown rice, of course. It is a nice contrast to richer teas and an awful lot like a thin, unassuming broth.

The aroma reminds me of fresh-baked bread. You can smell the toasted rice, but behind it is a slight grassiness of a meadow. A very nice scent.

The tea is rather dry, and has a light lingering finish near the back of the tongue. There is very little viscosity.

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  • Teas of the World: Japanese Teas, Round 2 (englishtea.us)
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  • New Tea Menu (reneeclaireblanchard.com)
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insights photography

On locality, sharing, and whole foods.

Griggstown Quail Farm
Griggstown Quail Farm (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I got a share in my local CSA.

So I finally got in! I’m excited about my brand new CSA share. Let me explain what it is, why I’m excited, and why you should try to get one if you are interested in economics, fitness, or food politics.

A few years ago, before my nutritional ideas began to guide my eating, politics, and concerns, I heard about the idea of a CSA, or a Community-Supported Agriculture program. I found out that it is a local farm that requires up-front consumer purchase of a share in a set of crops that are then distributed throughout the season. At the time, it seemed like a neat idea, something that crunchy granola types did. Over time, and with knowledge, I began to realize what an important idea it is. In fact, I’m going to try to see if I can use this share as the only source of food at home, aside from coffee, tea, and eggs. I might be crazy, but I think I’d know by now. The most often-stated con of this arrangement is that the consumer takes a risk in that the crop that they have paid for is subject to pests, weather, and other unforeseen factors. I think that the risk is far outweighed by the potential. Now, the upsides:

There are many benefits:

  • Supporting your local area by purchasing products made there. Not the next state over. Not the next country over. Here. 
  • The overhead of shipping is nonexistent, because the food goes from the field to the table, where you can walk or bike (or take the bus, or drive) to pick it up.
  • The cost effectiveness (the number one excuse-response when I suggest a whole food nutritional lifestyle over a processed food one) is amazingly high.
  • The food could not possibly be fresher.
  • The food is usually of an amazing variety, and suggests that you learn how to cook and enjoy new foods.
  • The food is un-packaged, un-processed, whole food.
  • The food at many CSAs is USDA organic, meaning pesticide-free. At my CSA farm, they use an alternative called IPM (Integrated Pest Management)
  • Since the farm makes food available at harvest, the food is by default seasonal, which promotes seasonal eating, and deprecates the idea of year-round tasteless tomatoes, for instance.
  • The farm makes the bounty available each week, and a typical weekly individual share (shown below) is usually more than enough for one person.
  • The local farm provides local jobs, and often provides opportunities for labor in exchange for part of a share.
  • You get fresh farmed food every week from about June to October, at least here in the Northeast.
A single week's fruits and vegetables from com...
A single week’s fruits and vegetables from community-supported agriculture share: peppers, okra, tomatoes, beans, potatoes, garlic, eggplant, squash. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

How it happened for me.

So, I became interested years ago in the idea of joining a CSA, but there was not one locally available to me until my recent move to the Princeton area, where the Griggstown Quail Farm offers its CSA. You can read about their particular program at their CSA site. I had the pleasure of sampling a Griggstown share while a friend was on vacation last year, and the experience was glorious. The food was fresh, the people were nice, the market was close, and the food was simply waiting for me to come and pick it up.

It works for me, personally. YMMV.

There are a couple of things that make it especially sensible for me, though these are by no means a set of reasons to not consider a CSA if you think differently:

I am mostly vegetarian, meaning that in situations where meat is not a part of the only good and reasonable option, I will eat vegetarian. I eat meat about once a week, mostly out of convenience, and typically as a condiment, such as chicken broth in soup where there is no vegetarian option.

I am very interested in my health and fitness, and so I think of whole foods like nuts, whole grains, beans, legumes, vegetables and fruit as a key part of maintaining that fitness. I believe in the value of whole foods over processed foods.

I am very supportive of ecological efforts, locality, reasonable consumerism, and saving money.

I cook my own meals when I can. I really love to cook.

Costs and value.

It is the beginning of March, 2013. I just spent $300 for a full personal share. I will not see the food for weeks. However, when I do, here is a typical share of the crops I should expect in July (as an example), though the crops will start to become available in June:

1 pint of Arugula, 2 cucumbers, 1 eggplant or fennel, 2 onions, 1 bell pepper, 2 jalapeño peppers, 1 banana pepper, 2 Hungarian hot wax peppers, 1 romaine lettuce, 1 bunch of scallions, 2 zucchini, swiss chard, 3 tomatoes, basil, oregano, parsley, sage and thyme.

Other items I should expect this year are peas, beans, beets, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, greens, radishes, spinach, turnips, choi, broccoli, winter squash, celery, pumpkins, melons, potatoes, watermelons, cut flowers, cherries, tomatillos, tarragon, rosemary, cilantro and dill.

I can not imagine another instance in which such an amazing nutritional, ecological, and social value could be had at such a low price.

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insights

Getting started with a whole foods nutritional lifestyle.

Batonneted potatoes in olive oil with salt and pepper
Batonneted potatoes in olive oil with salt and pepper

I’m very interested in alternatives to the traditional American eating lifestyle. I believe that it is the core reason that obesity is at such a high rate in this country, and a hidden reason behind many contemporary ills, such as heart disease, the dying-hive phenomenon, and the prevalence of cancer. I eat processed food, and it’s likely that you do too. I’m stopping though. I’m going to start adopting a more dedicated whole foods lifestyle, building on my existing whole food regiment.

Whole foods are foods found in nature, or foods built from food found in nature. If it comes in a box in the middle aisles of a major supermarket, chances are it’s processed food. If they sell it at a local farmer’s market, it’s more likely that it is a whole food.  Whole foods tend to be simple, simply prepared, and simply produced. Less ingredients, less fuss, less advertising, less packaging. I am going to be mostly vegetarian, though there are allowances in the lifestyle for meat, when produced locally and eaten responsibly.

Fruits and vegetables will continue to be a core part of my effort. I eat between 5-10 fruits and vegetables a day, as close as possible to their whole form. I eat apples, bananas, oranges, potatoes, onions, string beans, spinach, and related foods every day.

I eat milk, eggs, cheese, 100% whole-wheat and whole-grain products, but I am going to start getting them at independent local markets and bakeries.

I drink water, milk, all natural juices, and naturally sweetened coffee & tea. I am giving up Splenda. I will start using only all natural sweeteners, such as honey, 100% maple syrup, and fruit juice.

I will move from snacks like granola bars, which I love but should make myself (it’s easy, and they are delicious) or not have them at all, and will increase snacks like dried fruit, seeds, and popcorn. I am already an avid fan of shelled nuts.

The expected outcome is that I’ll maintain my weight loss, get sick less, feel better, be less depressed, and have more energy. Doubt me? You must not know me. 🙂

Related articles
  • Real Food: How to Cut Processed Foods Out of Your Life (homemakerchic.wordpress.com)
  • Top 10 Farmers Markets in the UK and around the world (essentialtravel.co.uk)
  • How Dangerous is Sugar and HCFS? (High Fructose Corn Syrup) (broadcastarchives.net)
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insights photography

20120103: On so-called bad foods #fitness #nutrition #health

Losing Weight: Eat Real Food cc-by lemasney
Eat Real Food cc-by lemasney
Eat Real Food by John LeMasney via 365sketches.org
Eat Real Food by John LeMasney via 365sketches.org

Feeling: Today, I thought I might talk a bit about some of my feelings about categorizing foods into good and bad. I try to categorize food in better ways, as it’s a much more complex issue than that, and it’s generalization to group foods wholesale into moral standing. For instance, I’d rather eat foods that make me feel good than ones that don’t. I’d like to eat foods that make me satiated and energetic. I think that very often we label food bad because of the stereotype of that food, rather than the food itself. I think that the worst foods in moral standing can easily be the ones that help you stay fit. My key rule is that it’s very hard to make whole food bad.

In no case should anyone be eating any food to excess. Let’s take pizza. I’m not promoting eating a whole 16 inch pizza to anyone. I’m saying that if you have a slice or two, it need not be rubbery, overindulging, mass-produced slop, but something to savor, to luxuriate in, to benefit from.

A Pizza Hut Supreme pizza.
A Pizza Hut Supreme pizza. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Eating: If all you ever ate was Pizza Hut pizza, I could understand it being referred to as a bad food. They are often thick, bready, messy takes on what can be a delicious and wholesome delight. If all you ever had ever eaten was thin crust Jersey pizza shop pizza, you’d be better off, but still I could see it as being called bad food. These pies are often more about grease and cheese and meat than the crust or tomatoes, though the crust is sometimes spectacular. My favorite pies are ones I make at home with pre-packaged naan bread (about 500 calories), topped with thinly sliced Roma tomatoes, garlic and fresh basil (50 calories for all of it), topped with 3 ciliegine mozzarella balls (60 calories).  It’s whole food, it’s soft inside with a crisp crust, and it has depth of flavor. You can customize it to your every whim, and you can control exactly how it tastes, with little effort. It is in no way bad food.

Naan Pizza by John LeMasney via lemasney.com
Naan Pizza by John LeMasney via lemasney.com

Let’s look at fries. Skip the McDonald’s large, and julienne a single medium potato into a hot lightly oiled pan, flip until tender, add salt, and you will have a very nice treat with about 300 calories.

Moving: I’m not back up to 10,000 steps a day yet, but I got about 6,000 in yesterday.

Learning: I’m taking new approaches to project management today.

Insights:

  • My FitBit profile: This is where I track my daily activity, sleep, and workouts.
  • My Fitness Pal food diary: This is where you can find out exactly what I ate today.
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Illustration portfolio

20121220: A honeybee made of text by John LeMasney via 365sketches.org #creativecommons #design #typography

20121220: A honeybee made out of text by John LeMasney via 365sketches.org #creativecommons #design
20121220: A honeybee made out of text by John LeMasney via 365sketches.org #creativecommons #design

20121220: A honeybee made out of text by John LeMasney via 365sketches.org #creativecommons #design
20121220: A honeybee made of text by John LeMasney via 365sketches.org #creativecommons #design

It’s cold in here now. I miss summer, and its intense heat. Strangely, I miss the honeybees. They represent summer to me. When I was younger, I was terribly scared of bees, but I’ve gotten a lot of experiences with them that endear me to them now. I have a lot of good associations with them, and I respect what they do. I’m worried about the effects of the dead hives phenomenon, and I hope that we find out what’s going on there. There’s another special reason that I’m posting this that I’ll keep to myself, but I bet that some of you might figure it out.

lemasney, design, open source, creative commons, cc-by, typography, poster, Inkscape, GIMP, bees, honey, honeybees

Look at lots of other images from this series at http://pinterest.com/lemasney/portfolio/

This image is Creative Commons Attribution licensed (cc-by lemasney)

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