Here we are at the end of 2005 and it's time to sit back and reflect on the year past. In Santa Fe, we saw The Palace become Señor Lucky's, Casa Olea become Pachanga, Pranzo change hands, the Farmers' Market settle on a permanent home at the Railyard and Counter Culture finally start serving dinner. This fall, Gov. Richardson proposed a set of rules for vending machines in schools that would be some of the strictest in the country.
But let's lean back a little farther and look at an even bigger picture for a moment, shall we? Let's look at some of the year's big stories that affect the country as a whole.
The new food pyramid was finally released.
The United States Department of Agriculture got high-tech and gave us the opportunity to personalize our pyramids online. At USDA's web site,
, you can print out your own pyramid along with worksheets that help you track how well you're adhering to the plan, including the new recommendation to drink three cups of milk a day. Critics slammed the revised pyramid for being overly complicated, not adequately pushing whole grains, ignoring the positive health benefits of fatty fish like salmon, and over-emphasizing meat, milk and dairy. But it was lauded for separating good fats (like olive oil) from bad fats (like trans fats) and encouraging a balance between diet and exercise. At the bare minimum it made us all say to ourselves: I have really got to start eating more leafy green vegetables.
The threat of trans fats labeling scared the pants off potato chip companies.
Back in 2003, the Food and Drug Administration decreed that starting in January, 2006, nutrition fact labels would have to include trans fats. Terrified of the trans fats backlash, food companies started purging partially hydrogenated oils from their recipes. Frito Lay had already taken most of its products trans-fats-free by this year, but the company was joined by scores of others in bragging about their lack of trans fats on their labels. Even the Girl Scouts' cookie bakers were pushed into eliminating trans fats for the 2006-2007 season.
Hurricane Katrina devastated one of the nation's favorite food cities.
Before Katrina, New Orleans was home to more than 10,000 food-service establishments and the industry employed nearly 200,000 hospitality workers. The storm and ensuing flood destroyed restaurants, farms, manufacturing plants and fishing boats, not to the mention homes and cars of the people who worked in those businesses. As of this month, reports say only 360 of the city's estimated 3,500 restaurants have reopened. The biggest obstacle is finding staff when housing is still so scarce.
Atkins filed for bankruptcy.
Dr. Atkins died in 2003 and this summer saw the company he founded foundering badly due to declining sales of low-carb diet products. Atkins Nutritionals plans to reorient its business to a more widespread customer base, targeting consumers with a more broad health and wellness approach.
Sesame Street got serious (sort of) about childhood obesity.
Sesame Street's 35th season was focused on children's health. High-profile guests like Alicia Keys showed Elmo how to shake it while the Yankee's Joe Torre taught the furry little guy that playing sports can be a fun way to stay healthy. In a skit called "American Fruit Stand," Hootie the Owl even cooed a song called "A Cookie is a Sometimes Food." Times sure have changed.
SCOTUS said it was OK to ship wine to MI and NY.
The Supreme Court rejected rules that had allowed customers in some states to buy wine from in-state wineries but not from those located out-of-state. The ruling was a boon for wine aficionados in those states and for wineries who now have new markets available.
Laura ditched Walter for Cris because of Hillary.
In a story that played out like a daytime drama, First Lady Laura Bush gave longtime White House Chef Walter Scheib the boot. The Washington Post reported that Scheib, who was hired by Hillary Clinton in 1994, said he was fired because Laura wanted her own person in the kitchen and not the Clinton's cook. Mrs. Bush's six-month search focused on recruiting a big-name chef, but the relatively low pay and strict rules on publicity meant her offers were not accepted by any high-profile toques. In the end, Scheib's former assistant, Cristeta Comerford, was promoted to the top job. Philippine-born Comerford, known as Cris, is the first woman and the first person of color to hold the post.
The fat cats are actually getting fat.
An American Heart Association study revealed that obesity is growing fastest among Americans who make more than $60,000 per year. Researchers found that those in the highest income bracket had a 276 percent increase in obesity from 1971 to 2002. Long considered a problem primarily of the poor, the study's authors said they were surprised by their findings and didn't have any clear explanation for the results. Wealthier people might eat out more or exercise less as they're zipping around from meeting to meeting.
Food companies voluntarily curbed kid-targeted advertising.
Parents finally caught on that their TV-babysat rugrats were being spoon-fed ads for junk food and they got mad. Feeling the heat from parents' groups and legislators, companies like Kraft Foods implemented self-imposed restrictions on ads aimed at young kids. Will it make a difference? Read this column again at the end of 2006.
Tell me where to eat! I need your input. Send all of your tips, gripes and raves to
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