Social Network

Social Network

Going Underground to get on the road to good health!

Annually, the Heritage and Health Foundation, the non-profit arm of the Wellness Medicine, conducts its Health Mission. We go out into the community, with the goal of educating, empowering and motivating interested members of our society in general, and African-Americans specifically, in the message of the components of a healthful lifestyle. This year, we will continue our journey along the historic Underground Railroad, as we “go underground to get on the road to good health”! I will be riding portions of the Ohio leg of the Underground Railroad, mostly using the route planned by the Adventure Cycling Association. If you are interested in following the journey, sign our guestbook at www.thewellmed.com, whereby you opt in to the Grapevine Telegraph, a biweekly ezine summarizing health and wellness news and topics of importance. It is edited by a Registered and Licensed Dietitian, Certified in Adult and Child and Adolescent Weight Management! You can support us with a donation, or purchasing a two-year subscription to The ESPN magazine, for $40. Just visit http://store.thewellmed.com and click new on the left.

As a special gift for your support, you will receive a copy of the 2006 Health Mission, “Rode Down the River”, my trip alone Natchez Trace in Mississippi. See you on the e-road to good health! And by the way, the year is more than half over, you have reached “Halftime”. How are you doing with your health and wellness goals? It’s never too late to start.

It is still alive:)

The last post declared that dinnertime is still alive and I am so happy. The holidays usually bring about an increase of family dining, and let's keep it going into the new year!

The Associated Press: AP poll: Family dinnertime in America still alive

The Associated Press: AP poll: Family dinnertime in America still alive

Stirring up Memories!

This has been a special summer. I have been spending a lot of time, stirring up memories with my children. I am writing a book about how our fellowship at the table has helped establish this great relationship we have. We stirred up many memories this year. We learned how to ride a bike. We went on a train trip to the nation's Capital and went on a tour of the Capital Building. We tried many different foods, and got so much exercise, even I needed a break. We even earned new bikes!

Part of having a culinary conversation is to have something to talk about and I can not think of a more stimulating topic than the fellowship between a parent and children, especially in today's multimedia communication environment. Share some table time, and it is OK to eat with your hands!

Cycle Friendly

I just returned from a 10.6 mile walk in Chicago, while waiting for my train to leave. While I was out, I saw another food truck, BQ Afro Root Cuisine, Nigerian Food (see previous post).

I also saw hundreds of people using bicycles for commuting. Really. I have heard it was bike friendly, but to see it was amazing. There were signs to tell drivers to yield to cyclist. And they did.

When I return tomorrow, my kids and I will be on our bikes and I hope everyone joins us in some form of exercise of moderate intensity.

Keep on Truckin'

As I hurried to the bus station to begin my journey back home from Kansas City, I passed a row of food trucks of different cuisines--gyros, mexican and Lutfi's Fried Fish. It must be good, there was a long line!

Ironically, I recently read an article in the Wall Street Journal, titled, "Food Truck Nation". It chronicled the new boom of food trucks across the nation, in cities of all sizes. In DC, there are the organically themed, "On the Fly" trucks. The "Green Truck", serving fish tacos in vegetable oil fueled vehicles. And Kogi BBQ, serving Korean-styled tacos in LA, and powered by 28,000 followers on twitter, using bankrupt Chrysler subsidiary Global Electric Motorcars! And make sure you follow metwitter.com/culinaryconverse!).

As you can see, these are not your traditional roach-coaches. This is often high end fare that cost more than a hot dog but less than the same food in a sit down traditional restaurant.

The street food movement is not a new phenomenon. Pepper Pot street vendors in Philadelphia in the 19th century popularized food for people on the move!

All of this reminds me of food trucks in my locale, "Wilsons Hot Tamales", Mississippi Delta-style cornmeal tamales. They are great and recently I ate them with a glass of Riesling wine. You have to try this. they will keep you truckin'!