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There is nothing better than catching an Alaskan Sockeye Salmon, filleting it, and tossing it on the grill. While it's cooking, pick some fresh vegetables from your garden for a side salad. Freshly picked berries for dessert. Chase it with fresh water from a mountain spring.

While that's ideal, it's not realistic for today's American family. I grew up in a household where both parents worked. While my mother was, and is, a great cook, there were nights when we had hot dogs and boxed macaroni and cheese for dinner. We ate sugary cereal for breakfast and took bologna sandwiches on white bread in our lunch boxes. However, we were physically active. We didn't have a Playstation to sit in front of, exercising only our thumbs. I spent most of my days on my bicycle, exploring the world.

Moderation in all things. Have an occasional hot dog. Have a couple of beers with your buddies or a glass of wine with dinner. Enjoy life. Parents should teach their children the value of a balanced diet and daily exercise. Children are sponges, and are developing the patterns and habits that will follow them throughout their adult lives. If you smoke cigarettes, they are learning from you. If you drink whiskey every night to \"unwind\", remember they are watching.

So, smoke in the garden shed and drink in the closet. And let your kids have a hot dog on the 4th of July.
-Blackfoot | 08.28.08 - 12:09 am | #

Blackfoot,
Thanks! I have learned it is not necessary to \"balance\" the story or flip the coin. I trust the readers to do it. So as usual, you brought additional thoughts to ponder.

Sockeye salmon? Have any idea what that costs in Texas?!

Tammy
Anonymous | 08.28.08 - 8:49 am | #

I have some fresh fish I can send you, Tammy. One lump or two?

An additional thought, on topic. Last year, I heard of a family of sisters who all tested positive for carrying a breast cancer gene. I'm not sure how I would feel about a daughter or niece making the decision to proactively have a mastectomy, but Life is more precious than flesh.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22343990/

I personally knew two people who died of colon cancer. Both men. We need to take our vitamins. We could chew on a bit of rabbit food. I've heard that taking a fiber supplement helps. Otherwise, people might be correct in stating that you're full of crap.
-Blackfoot | 08.28.08 - 10:12 am | #

Blackfoot,
Two large salmon please... smile. That will beat out the Starbucks I received from another reader a couple years ago.

I think life causes death. Yep. You live long enough, something will knock the breath out of you.

Japanese have a greater incidence of gastric cancer. They eat a lot of fish. Americans, have more colon cancer. We eat a lot of beef. Vegetarians? They develop cancer too. A steady diet of carrots? smile

I believe that moderation is the key and more importantly, keep the weight within a reasonable range.

I believe we can also be a bit arrogant regarding food because our supply is so good. The hungry man, will eat practically anything. And most likely, with more gratitude.

Tammy
Anonymous | 08.28.08 - 11:24 am | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ I wonder what Upton Sinclair would think if he read a few ingredient labels on today's packaged \"food\".

That being said, I often ponder the irony of being preached at by public schools about exercise when they're the ones who reduced elementary gym class exposure to one day each week from 5. Not that I worry for me...both kids are active in multiple sports and our Wii has dust on it.

I still love a good, hot ribeye steak dripping with seasoning and medium-cooked. It's what I get for growing up in a landlocked state I guess. At the same time I eat about half to two-thirds less in one sitting these days.

Try just cutting out all fluids but water, by the way. I did, and lost 12 pounds, while still eating whatever I wanted.
bob | 08.28.08 - 5:05 pm | #

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