FitSugar

Weekend Watching: How to Cook Your Life

FitSugar — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 02:30:00 -0700

The soulful combination of Zen Buddhism and the art of cooking has been captured on film in the new documentary How to Cook Your Life by Doris Dörrie. She follows Zen chef Edward Espe Brown as he creates fabulous food trying to live by the Zen precepts. He can be impatient and is filmed cursing an unruly bottle of olive oil. So heartening to know that the master chefs have issues too-I love that he laughs a lot, and often at himself.

Brown, author of Tassajara Bread Book, was told by his mentor, "When you wash the rice, wash the rice, when you cut the carrots, cut the carrots, when you stir the soup, stir the soup." Mindful cooking can probably feel a lot like meditation. I can fully get behind the movie's message "eat local, eat well, eat slow," because the mindful shopping and cooking should always be followed by mindful eating.

Unfortunately, this film will probably not be released nationwide. To check out where and when this movie is opening and screening, just read more

San Francisco
10/26

NYC, Seattle, Portland, Phoenix, Santa Fe, Denver
11/16

San Diego, Minneapolis
11/23

Boston, Washington, D.C.
12/6

King Corn Coming to Theaters Near You

FitSugar — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 03:00:00 -0700

Corn, it is an ingredient in just about everything. The cob is manufactured into fillers, oils and sweeteners. Many have theorized that the rise in obesity is due to the increased use of high fructose corn syrup as a sweetener. While the jury is still out on that particular connection, many see the corn subsidy as the underlying problem with American food production and agriculture.
In light of all this, two recent college graduates decided to plant an acre of corn in Iowa in an attempt to learn more about the crop that is taking over America. The tale they tell in the documentary King Corn is entertaining, enlightening and funny. Regardless if you have or haven’t read Michael Pollan’s treatise on agriculture in the U.S. - The Omnivore's Dilemma - you should see this film. If you are what you eat, then we are all corn!

King Corn will be shown in select theaters around the country this October. If you can't make it to see the film, don't fret. You can read about the film and its protagonist / antagonist, corn, on their website.

Thin the Movie: The Reality of Eating Disorders

FitSugar — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 15:45:00 -0800

Eating disorders affect 5 million people in the U.S. More than 10% of those diagnosed with anorexia nervosa will die from the disease. Seeking to put a human face on these sobering statistics, acclaimed photographer Lauren Greenfield went inside a Florida treatment center to tell the stories of four women who are literally dying to be thin.

The devastating documentary film titled Thin, reveals her findings. It is captivating and you are drawn in by the heart-wrenching stories of these girls and their painful struggles as they each try to recover.

You can purchase Thin, a groundbreaking book about eating disorders. Greenfield's photographs are paired with extensive interviews and journal entries from twenty girls and women suffering not only from their eating disorders, but from the personal struggles that lead to the disorders in the first place.

Fast Food Nation: The Movie

FitSugar — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 12:30:00 -0800

OK, so you've probably heard of the book, Fast Food Nation, where the author, Eric Schlosser reveals the unpleasant truths about fast food.

Did you know that Americans spend more money on fast food than on higher education or new cars? Every month more than 90% of American children eat at McDonald's. The average American eats 3 hamburgers and 4 orders of fries a week.

But what exactly is in those hamburgers? If you knew, you'd never eat at another burger chain again. And if you thought the fries were "animal-free," think again. McDonald's still acknowledges that some of the flavor in their fries comes from "animal products" - whatever that means.

This best-selling book was made into a movie, starring Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke. But The New Yorker and New York Post both gave it horrible reviews.

I don't know about the movie, but I found the book to be extremely powerful and life-changing. After reading it, I'm sure you'll think twice before ordering your next Happy Meal.