Food

In an editorial, you ask whether the federal dietary guidelines have to be so complicated ( "More advice on what to eat," Feb. 6). You answered your own question through the examples you cite — yes they do. Take sodium: Your advice to "cook more meals at home" won't reduce sodium intake to 1,500 mg when cooking to many people means heating up carry-out, prepared foods and convenient "just add the main ingredient" mixes at home. The National Salt Reduction Initiative, a partnership of cities, companies and national health organizations such as the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, has targets to guide salt reduction in packaged food and restaurant food for committed companies such as Snyder's of Hanover and Au Bon Pain.

Regarding your recent article on the health benefits of Hollywood-hip practices, there actually is a rationale for mothers who pre-masticate food for their infants ("Extreme mothering, celeb-style," May 24). There is a marked absence of a certain salivary enzyme in infants during the period from birth to 3 to 5 months. This enzyme is needed to digest complex carbohydrates found in grains such as rice, wheat, oatmeal, etc. It's the digestive enzymes in the mother's saliva that matters.

Each week a nutritionist from the University of Maryland Medical Center will provide a post on nutrition topics for The Baltimore Sun's Picture of Health (baltimoresun.com/pictureofhealth). This week, Shanti Lewis weighs in on vacation dining. How do you eat healthfully and maintain your weight when you have long flights ahead and eat out almost every night while on vacation? Because of the limited fare on flights, many travelers indulge in fast food and choose beverages that can be dehydrating before boarding their planes.

Regarding your editorial about Newt Gingrich's remarks on race, I am writing to thank you for confirming what I was thinking ("Newt the demagogue," Jan. 20). I knew I was not crazy. It is amazing that in 2012 we are still having conversations about racism. I thought we had made a lot of progress, but the current GOP race has shown otherwise. What Mr. Gingrich and his wife paid in federal taxes last year some people won't see in 30 years of working. I am not condemning him and his wife, but they just don't get it. Nor does Mitt Romney, with his overseas accounts.

From Dec. 8 to Dec. 18, surplus federal food will be distributed at 10 Baltimore County sites to eligible county residents who have a food identification card or some other proof of residency and low income.Peanut butter, canned pork, corn meal, green beans and butter are among the foods that will be distributed. The sites will open at 8:30 a.m. and will give out food until their stocks are depleted. The Parkton American Legion Post at 19520 York Road will distribute food between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Dec. 18.The other sites and dates are:* On Dec. 8, the county government building at Wise Avenue and Merritt Boulevard in Dundalk,* On Dec. 9, St. Luke's Church at 7517 North Point Road in Edgemere.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Americans at 1990's midpoint pile food and assorted food gadgets on their tables at Christmas and New Year's. Two-liter soda bottles, gallons of milk and juices, pounds of raisins, apples, nuts, fish, meat and potatoes, bunches of bananas, asparagus and artichokes.The world produces enough wheat, rice, millet, sorghum and corn for every man, woman and child to eat every day of the year. In addition, the world fish catch exceeds 100 million tons annually, or, if evenly distributed to every inhabitant of the earth, about three-quarters of a pound weekly.

W hen comedian Jim Gaffigan needs inspiration for his stand-up routine, he looks to the low end of American life. Gaffigan loves to romanticize about lying on the sofa, eating unhealthy food like Hot Pockets and piles of bacon, or making a late-night Waffle House run. He plays the stereotypical American - whiny and ultra-lazy - like few other comedians. That could be why so many Americans relate to Gaffigan, who will perform two shows at the Lyric Opera House on Friday night.

Whether you're stuffing your face with a KFC Double Down sandwich or watching Gordon Ramsay roast professional chefs on "Hell's Kitchen," you're sharing in one of society's biggest obsessions: food. "Food is hot," said Paula Johnson, curator for the new exhibit "FOOD: Transforming the American Table, 1950-2000," which opened recently in Washington. "It's a topic people are very interested in, as evidenced by TV, books and blogs. " Johnson's exhibit, on display at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, examines the transformation of food and the ways it has shaped American culture.

This letter is in response to Stephen Musselman's opinion letter about the HCPSS Wellness Policy revisions. In his letter, Mussleman claims that the HOCO PTA's are taking a "hard lined stance against student health… . " The PTA's oppose the proposed revision to the Wellness Policy that mandates any food/beverages given or sold to students on school system property after school would have to comply with yet to be written HCPSS Nutritional Guidelines....

An incomplete e-mail address was given in a story about food and the Internet in Wednesday's A La Carte section of The Sun.The correct address for the Chocolate Lover's Web page is (http://www.ios.com/mb/chocolate). The tilde symbol is on the shift level of the key to the left of the number 1 on most keyboards.The Sun regrets the error.Computer freaks are supposed to be so wrapped up in the hypnotic glow of their screens that they don't have time to think of food, except to scarf down bags of Chee-tos and plates of cold pizza.