Seriously, is this really needed?

Although foie gras is expensive and is produced by some incredibly cruel methods it is a favourite at Christmas time in France, and if the French are incredibly busy running around they can now buy a burger which includes their favourite foie gras in the form of a burger!

Quick, which is a rival to McDonalds in France, will be selling the 'Supreme Foie Gras Burger' for just 5 euros, or 7.50 euros with fries and a soft drink The burger features pieces of foie gras atop a minced beef patty, with onion relish and rocket leaves.

It will be served at its 360 outlets across the country for three days only, from December 17 to 19.

Foie gras, which translates literally as ‘fatty liver’, is produced mainly in the southwest of France by farmers who force-feed poultry with large quantities of ground corn and wheat in order to swell the birds’ livers, and by force fed I mean a tube shoved down their throats and then food literally poured into their stomachs, makes the burger sound better all the time, I mean, who would not want to buy such a positive snack?

Once extracted the livers can fetch up to 100 euros per kilo at markets in the Aquitaine region and even more in Paris during the pre-Christmas shopping rush.

For me this is just another example of human greed and vanity, you can imagine can´t you, "look at me and my incredibly expensive burger" really, the fact that you are eating a fast food burger indicates you have no style at all, no matter what is in it.

If this works in the 3 days that the burgers are on sale no doubt this ´forward thinking´burger chain will expand the branches that you can purchase this burger. You will be able to find ´fatty liver´burgers served with chips, sorry french fries, and a soft drink in more places, hippie.

If you are reading this and are about to say it is ok because the animals like being force fed, they look forward to it, blah, blah, blah don´t. I have geese and ducks as pets who live with us and I can assure you, they would not want to live in a shed with thousands of other birds with only the thought of being force fed to look forward too. Get your head out of the sand and see the reality of this. Sorry to rant but it simply drives me nuts!

Lynn
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Watch Out For The Child Catchers!

The UK newspapers are today reporting on how parents are letting their children down by not educating them on good health, in particular food.

The leading fast food chaings lure children into their food stores with gifts, play areas and bright colours not unlike that of the child catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

With my own children I give them the option, they can go to any of these places, but I have spent alot of time educating them on what goes into the food, how it is prepared and the nutritional value behind the food. I have sat with them and gone through a brilliant web site www.meatrix.com which illustrates fantastically what this food is all about. I have used my marketing background to explain how the gifts are a lure to children to entice them in. No I am not brainwashing them with information I am giving them the facts that every child deserves.

I started educating my children when they were only 6 and 8 years old and now they have a very clear understanding.

Theyknow what organic means, they know that if a they see signs saying ´100 chicken legs only 4.99´they understand what it contains and that it is probably not even suitable for a dog.

I make a lentil burger with my children, they see everything that goes into it and we talk about how the Romans marched across Europe on a diet of lentils because they are full of protein and made the soldiers strong. They put them in a bun with all the extras and they love the taste, the smell and the texture. They have a burger, they have helped to make it, they have a story to share and most importantly they are being nourished on all levels.

My point here is that children want to learn, we all need to learn, to understand what we are putting into our bodies. We need to set the right example to our children to ensure their future. No one wants to see their children unwell so keep them healthy including their mental, physical and emotional.

Never say no but give them the information to make their own decisions, you will be surprised how many times they choose correctly. It is incredibly heart warming to hear them talk to their friends about the dangers of fast foods and foods from unknown sources. These children are the ones who will make the difference in the future.

Lynn
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