Sure, we ingest too many sugars and many staples are loaded with starch which convert to sugars in our bodies. But really? These staples, comparatively, are cheaper than many other foods. These people saying they are off bread may have comfortable incomes, but they are not millionaires being able to eat only lean meats and exotics. Besides, you are a supposed to eat a bit of everything (fat too).The Canada Food Guide explicitly includes the consumption of grain and staple products. As do many other countries. Stop ingesting crappy pre-made foods that are high in low quality ingredients, such as high fructose corn syrup.
Of course there are people who have medical concerns that prevent or discourage the consumption of such foods. I know someone with a very real concern in this regard. However, I also have a friend who has made a choice to cut out sugars and foods containing sugars and starches, including grains, other staples, and even most fruits and vegetables higher in sugar, such as carrots and other root vegetables.
I am not one to tell people what to eat, but it is hard to cook a balanced meal for a guest when all they eat are the higher dollar value foods put on the table and you find yourself eating mainly side dishes. I have no problem cooking around real food allergies and intolerances, but having to cook for people who choose not to eat certain foods arbitrarily is frustrating. Now, at this point, people will say I hate vegetarians. Not at all, my family does not eat meat at every meal, and the way I cook, there are several main and side dishes that are eminently appropriate for vegetarians. (I love barbecued firm tofu.) Plus, when there is meat on the table with veggie-eaters present, there is more for us omnivores. And, yes, I know several vegetarians, and have cooked for them.
Now, related to all this off bread clobber, is the so-called "gluten allergy". In most cases, what a bunch of baloney. There is an interesting article in Forbes Magazine that discusses the condition and debunks it somewhat as largely psychological in many, but not all, cases. Of course some people do really have celiac. Figures vary from well below 1% in many countries to as high as 2-3% in some developed countries. Figures for North America appear to range from 0.7-1%. In Canada, that is between 255,000 and 365,000 people for an estimated population of 36,500,000. They also appear to all live in the Ottawa Valley. There is an interesting article that discusses the "rise" of gluten issues and ties some of it to how our grains have changed. It is worth the read. This doctor, as do many others, recommends testing before changing your diet for very sound reasons.
So, here's the skinny: if you want to make a "fashion statement" and be off bread or have a gluten allergy (without test results and a letter from your doctor, you are full of it), go ahead. Just do not come to my table expecting to have a high dollar menu prepared just for you to soothe your bizarre public image.
Now, I am going to have some bread with my pasta lunch. blbbl
breads from the crusty bakers in kemptville, ontario
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