• The most dreaded household word. ’Twas the year when SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) became a household word (but certainly something we dreaded having in our households).
• Hello, Atkins diet; goodbye, Dr. Atkins. The Atkins diet went big with dieters around the world even as the man behind it, Dr. Robert Atkins, died in April (no, the good doctor did not die because of dieting). Dr. Atkins died a month before the publication of two articles that show how effective his high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet is for short-term weight loss.
• Obesity, a growing problem. Obesity was real heavy news, particularly in the US where there are about 300,000 obesity-related deaths reported annually (second only to smoking in morbidity). Two-thirds of all Americans are obese (that is, 50 or more pounds over their desirable weight).
According to the World Health Organization, obesity is becoming quite a big problem (literally and figuratively, that is).
As the problem grows bigger, more and more obese are seeking the fastest and easiest way out. This year, it’s estimated that 100,000 people in the US will undergo obesity surgery to cut that fat forever. Though they’re not 100 percent safe (one in every 200-300 may die), new laparoscopic/endoscopic techniques are making procedures easier and recovery faster.
• Not-too-sweet beginnings. The year began with news of diabetes skyrocketing by 40 percent. It is predicted that by 2050, the number of adults and children diagnosed in the US with diabetes will rise by 165 percent.
• Safe drugs for kids. In the US, the Pediatric Research Equity Act of 2003 has given the US Food & Drug Administration blanket authority to require that pediatric studies of drugs be done to ensure their safety and effectiveness.
• The lowdown on hypertension. New diagnosis of prehypertension was established for people with blood pressure that’s mildly elevated. For those whose systolic blood pressure is at or over 120 mm. or whose diastolic blood pressure is at or over 80, doctors prescribe exercise and low-salt, heart-healthy diet.
• Taking a pause for menopause. For treating menopause symptoms (hot flashes, vaginal dryness, etc.), estrogen is still the most effective antidote. But women on estrogen therapy are encouraged to use the lowest dose possible for the shortest period of time.
• Don’t forget your pill. A "polypill" may cut heart disease by 80 percent. Now, that’s real hearty news. Here’s more: Healthy people over 55 can reduce their risk of heart disease by taking one polypill a day. Exactly what makes up this miracle polypill? It consists of three drugs to reduce blood pressure, aspirin to prevent blood clots, a statin to reduce cholesterol and folic acid.
• Year of eating dangerously. Obesity was the top food story for 2003. A University of Illinois researcher, Prof. Brian Wansink, stoutly pointed a finger at the culprit behind obesity: Excessive food portions. His experiments show that the more people are given (or offered food), the more they will eat – regardless of whether they are full or think the food tastes good. To curb the problem of obesity, Wansink and his fellow researchers hope that authorities would devise more user-friendly nutrition labels for packaged foods. How user-friendly? Take this: Instead of stating that a handful of granola has 200 calories, the label should say that the consumer would have to walk two miles to burn the calories off. (Guess we would have to walk halfway across the globe to pay for our daily sweet indulgence.)
• Wanted: Content listing. Menu labeling for restaurants was proposed, listing on the menu the nutritional content of the dishes being served – calories, sodium, saturated fat, etc.
• Mouthwatering scents. Food-inspired perfumes took a bow this year. There was Cartier’s Le Baiser du Dragon laced with chocolate and caramel. Jennifer Lopez came up with Still Jennifer Lopez with an intoxicating hint of sake while Jean Patou introduced Enjoy with notes of green banana, pear and black currant. Hmmm, they smell good enough to eat!
• Too many Big Macs, too many big kids. A federal judge in Washington, D.C. dismissed complaints of parents that their children became fat (and developed high blood pressure and diabetes) because of eating fast foods from McDonald’s frequently. District Judge Robert Sweet (his real name) pointed out that parents ought to know that eating too many Big Macs would cause health problems for their kids.
• Freedom fries, anyone? As a biting reaction against the French move to roadblock the US’ rush to declare war on Iraq, Americans now call their french fries "freedom fries." So when you order a burger, you’ll probably be asked, "Want freedom fries with that?"
• The longest french fry? A freelance film editor sought to land a spot in the Guinness Book of Records by coming up with the world’s longest french fry measuring six-and-three-fourths inches. He auctioned it on eBay and the highest bid it got was $102.50.
• Battle of The Bulge. In Seattle, a restaurant issues a waiver to diners who order The Bulge – a fried banana topped with vanilla ice cream, caramel and chocolate sauces, whipped cream, macadamia nuts, cinnamon and powdered sugar. Yup, take it at your own risk!
• Sushi in the raw. Also in Seattle, you can now eat sushi off naked women and men at the Bonzai restaurant.
• South Beach Diet. Rivalling Atkins, pound for pound, was Dr. Agatson’s South Beach Diet that promised a loss of 35 pounds in two weeks! Bill and Hillary Clinton have reportedly tried this two-week carbo-restricted diet.
• Mediterranean Diet. This one is supposedly a heart-healthy diet rich in olive oil, pasta, fruits and vegetables but low in other fats. It is said that there’s a low incidence of heart disease among people in Mediterranean countries.
• Nuts about peanut butter. Reports say that only 60 million of 210 million Americans who eat peanut butter are kids. Thus, peanut butter giants have introduced flavors that adults would just love – care for peanut butter with garlic, peanut butter with Thai ginger, or peanut butter with red pepper?
For more enticing food stories, log on to rick.allen@starbanner.com.
• Cooking will be easier than ever as supermarkets offer more ready-to-eat meals, precut and washed produce. There’s Robinson’s Supermarket, for instance, where assorted homemakers will find packed ingredients to cook sinigang, kare-kare, pinakbet, etc. with, as well as ready-to-cook meats. Surely, going to the supermarket has never been such a super experience.
• People are returning to the comfort foods of their youth.
• Dishes from Spain and Northern Africa are touted as the foods of 2004. Take it from the expert himself, Mario Batali of Molto Mario fame: "I see continued interest in more casual, less intensive dining experiences with a push toward the new cooking of Spain and Northern Africa. Small plates will rule, as will less expensive, more esoteric wine lists ... Grocery-chain-produced home meal replacements will grow more than any other segment.
• Soy products will continue to be consumed in great quantities – from tofu to soymilk to tempeh. The reason is they’re truly soy good and nutritious!
• A wide array of sugars will be coming from all over the world – jaggery, piloncillo, muscovado, demerara, malt, date, plum. Your favorite hot chocolate will now be served in a variety of stimulating flavors, like ginger, chile, etc. And ice cream now comes in such hot flavors as olive oil and jalapeño.
Seasoned restaurateur Larry Cruz of the LJC Resto Group has this to add: "I don’t see any particular trend strongly shaping up for the new year. In past years, we went big on fast-food franchises, grill houses, Latin lounges, cigar bars, etc. The good ones have stayed; the rest – especially those who merely went in for the fad – are gone. We will continue to see new concepts developing as more malls develop. Greenbelt 2 and 3 will continue to lead for the next few years at least, but other food and entertainment areas will be sprouting this year. We will most likely see a resurgence of the Libis area with the full operation of a lifestyle center in Eastwood City, a brand-new resto complex in Alabang that will probably force Ayala to redevelop its pioneer commercial center in that area to maintain its dominance.
"The trend, if any, would be a branching out of well-known names to other parts of the country – say a Cafe Havana in Cebu, where already the first Cafe Adriatico franchise has expanded to a second, and in Baguio where Billy King has found a profitable refuge. We’re looking at an unlikely placce – Banaue – for a cafe, after an exhilarating and breathtaking vacation there during the holiday season.
"More spas with new health food concepts will likely latch on to the trend started two or three years ago. In general, the fashion would be toward new concepts that are heavy on theme but easy on the pocketbook. Style, yes. Expensive, no!"