via neatorama

It’s made by Electrolux, and has four separate compartments, essentially giving each roomie their own fridge.  I like the design and the idea is certainly innovative- but there are a couple of caveats.  This fridge does a great job of compartmentalizing, but each section is so little… could you fit all your stuff in there?  Also when I had roomates we usually only had one carton of milk, one thing of eggs, one stick of butter,etc, etc.  We purchased these on a rotating basis so as not to let things go bad.

I’m up in the air on this one.  On the one hand; great gimmick and cute design, on the other it’s a little pointless.  Whatever happened to everyone getting their own shelf or just respecting each others food – I mean it’s not like these people are strangers!  They’re your roomates!  You chose to live with them.

Via Yumsugar.

The nutcases over at PETA argue that it is healthier for us to consume breast milk, and that using cows for their milk is inhumane. First of all, if I am going for healthy, Ben and Jerry’s probably wont be my first stop. And secondly, inhumane to the cows… what about the women?! I guess PETA has no problems with milking women?

I was hoping this was a joke, but jokes on me because this is totally serious. I’m just praising the folks over at Ben and Jerry’s for remaining sane and unswayed by Peta’s craziness. I know I certainly would not buy ice cream made from breast milk. Eww, just, eww.

via wptz and Cold Mud.

In my area, milk is now over $4.00 a gallon and a dozen eggs can be upwards of $2.00. I’m talking about regular stuff too, not fancy schmancy organics.  This is ridiculous.  No wonder we have an obesity crisis in this country.  I could buy a fast food feast for the same price as 3 apples.  When a poor mother has to worry about feeding her kids I just don’t think the apples are gonna cut it.

So how do we solve this crisis?  I have no idea.  I fear that in the coming year it might just be a more economical decision for me to purchase a cow and some chickens, because the way things are going soon the price of livestock will probably rival that of milk and eggs.  The only problem is, I don’t know if my apartment is big enough for a cow.

Clever, except that this really does nothing for me.  I suppose it’s great for anyone whose sandwich is routinely stolen out of the company fridge but the thieves in my office go after “higher end” fare.  Yogurt? Yes. Soda? Yes. Chips? Yes. Sandwiches? No.  In fact, I have never had a sandwich stolen. Who steals a sandwich?! Here in my office, they take pretty much anything BUT sandwiches.

It makes sense, something prepackaged presents a cleaner more alluring air for a thief than something that you’ve had your hands all over.  I don’t know, I definitely give Sherwood props for trying, and I am happy that her worries have ended, but I am still accepting other solutions.  FYI I have tried labeling and “hiding” my goods behind the milk but the thieves are stealthy (or maybe super hungry?).

Editor’s note: I don’t think this plan would work in my office either, mostly because we try and throw out old and moldy stuff whenever we see it. If I saw this bag in my office fridge, I would throw it out.

I am also open to suggestions on dealing with gross food smells… you know, like actual moldy sandwiches.

via Slashfood

Michael Phelps “goes to great lengths” for his Frosted Flakes, Shawn Johnson “flips out” over tacos and now the Williams sisters and the Manning brothers and battling it out to become DSRL champs (thats Double Stuff Racing League for those of you not in the know).

Well, it’s certainly nice to know that I can throw all that practice crap out the window and trade it in for a box of Frosted Flakes, some taco fixin’s and a bag of Oreo’s! 2010 Olympics, here I come!

Editors addition from Eick: I’m actually totally digging this ad. It’s rare that companies get this much star power in the same ad and don’t screw it up in some way or another. From the mock rivalry between the Mannings and the Williams siblings, to the behind the scenes footage of them trash talking each other, this ad definitely delivers. Plus, the giant dancing Oreo in the workout clothes is fairly hilarious. The DSRL website is also surprisingly well thought out and put together, describing the “history” behind the DSRL:

The site also encourages you to be interactive, by creating your own personalized “Yobble.”

Fun. Seems like a big-name, big-budget way to get people talking about Double Stuff Oreos – plus, the TV ad is still somewhat ambiguous in describing exactly what the Double Stuff Racing League is, which should lead people to Google to search for the website and find out.

Earlier this year Starbucks tried to compete for the smoothie lovers of the world by launching the Vivanno, which in my opinion was less than stellar. I am not a smoothie lover, but I am pretty sure that a bland fruity sensation with an aftertaste of protein powder was not the desired effect. I see people ordering these all the time, so they must be somewhat popular, but honestly Starbucks is a coffee joint! They should just leave the bananas and juicing to the Jamba Juices of the world.

This week Starbucks decided to branch out just a little bit further – Healthy Breakfast! When I read about this I was actually really excited. Visions of individual yogurt cups, healthy cereal with skim milk and whole fruit danced in my head. Then I saw what Starbucks had in mind and I quickly abandoned all dreams of satisfaction. Ok, I’m totally over-exagerating, it’s not that bad. It’s just not that good either. Lets take the new items one by one:

1. Perfect Oatmeal with your choice of mixed nuts, brown sugar or dried fruit

First off, I want to know what it is that makes this oatmeal so perfect. It’s bad enough that we live in a world where nothing ever seems good enough – do you really need perfectionistic oameal? That being said, I like this oatmeal, it’s hot, thick and I like the idea of the various add in options (brown sugar’s my pick). But if I’m grabbing breakfast at Starbucks, I am most probably on the go and thus oatmeal is not an ideal option.

2. Power Protein Plate (includes apple slices, a couple of grapes, a hard boiled egg, a small amount of cheese and peanut butter)

I applaud the effort on this one, I really do, but it never really comes together. It would have been better had Starbucks offered the components of this pack seperately. I would have loved the option of being able to buy individual hard boiled eggs, apple slices or a mini bagel, but altogether it just doesn’t seem to fit. I mean technically I suppose this is the complete breakfast I always hear about in cereal comercials, but it just looks so unappetizing all smooshed into a plastic box underneath the harsh lights of the Starbucks display.

3. Chewy Fruit and Nut Bar

Umm this is basically just an overpriced granola bar. Not to mention it’s pretty small for its 250 calorie price tag. If I were you I would walk over to the nearest deli buy the granola bar of your choice and bring it back to Starbucks to enjoy with your coffee – cause this thing just isn’t worth it.

4. Multi Grain Roll with your choice of almond butter or fruit preserves

I don’t know about you but I normally don’t eat a roll for breakfast. A roll is more of a pre dinner food, no? As far as taste goes this isn’t bad, but I mean it’s hard to mess up a roll so… I don’t know this just confuses me because it suggests that Starbucks doesn’t understand the meaning of breakfast. I also love how they are trying to be all fancy by serving it with almond butter… are they too good for regular butter? This is fine as far as taste goes, but then again it’s just bread.

All in all I am disapointed. The new options had potential but none of them really hit the mark. However, I will not stop frequenting my local Starbucks. I will still show up daily for my coffee and a smile, and hope that someday soon Starbucks can find a way to make peace with who it is (a very good coffee shop) and stop trying to be someone its not (breakfast nook, juicebar, food purveyor of all sorts.)

**Apparently there are more items on the new breakfast menu, however they have not yet shown up in my local Starbucks, and thus were not available for review. I also chose not to include the Berry Stella as that one has been around for a while now and does not meet my qualifications for new.

via USA Today

Well it seems he and his friends have been living it up in Greece, where I am sure they are feasting on nuts, grapes and greek yogurt.

Greek police say a group of about 70 youths protesting high consumer prices seized food and household products from a supermarket before handing them out to people on the street.

The food prices must be really high over there, because the police arrested no one. So, what can we learn from this? I think the message goes a little something like this: the way to deal with rising food prices is simple. Just break into a super market, take food and run (if you are feeling nice steal some extra for your fellow townsfolk). And they always say there’s no such thing as a free lunch!

via Forbes

Apparently the DNC had such a long list of “guidelines,” that caterer’s feared not getting hired due to deviating from the proposed suggestions. Among these suggestions:

- Half a meal made up of fruits and/or veggies

- At least three of the following five colors on a plate – red, green, yellow, blue/purple and white (garnishes don’t count)

- No fried foods

- At least 70 percent of ingredients (based on precooked weight) certified organic and/or grown or raised in Colorado

- Use of reusable serviceware

- No bottled water, use pitchers instead

- Encourage staff to use alternative modes of transportation.

Ok, I get it, they’re trying to be healthy and not to harm the environment, but a color scheme? Dictating what kind of vehicle the food arrives in? That seems a bit ridiculous. Where are they going to find purple food in Colorado? And I just love the “garnishes don’t count,” way to catch the cheaters before they even try! I’m all for health and am a huge fan of fruits, vegetables and the environment, but as a former waitress I feel bad for the dishwashers who have to wash all that ‘reusable serviceware!’ If anything, this shows us that Barack Obama means business… he doesn’t just talk the talk, he walks the walk.

Conversely, the RNC has placed no restrictions on the menus during the convention. The only request they’ve made is for shrimp and tenderloin type fare. This fits actually. Having unhealthy and environmentally unfriendly food now and not worrying who will have to suffer the future consequences. It kind of mirrors the Republican party platform – act now on impulse and deal with the fallout later!

via Rocky Mountain News

via NY Daily News