If you are just as interested in travel as you are in food, then the history of French foods is one in particular that you are going to want to become more familiar with. The history of French foods is one which actually begins as far back as 1400 A.D., when the first French cookbooks imitated Moorish cuisine and sugar, which was still considered very much as being a luxury, was what was used to sweeten the various dishes.

1600

During the 1600s it was Royal patronage which truly promoted French cooking, with various dishes of fish and fruit being the most popular. There are many examples, particularly from this time that go to show just how important food has always been in France. For instance a butler once killed himself because his lobsters arrived late.

It was also during this time in French history that Dom Perignon invented the art of making champagne, as he began storing his wine in bottles that were strong enough to contain the petulance of secondary fermentation. Coffee was also introduced around the same time, in 1644, while in 1686 the development of the croissant celebrated a true Christian victory in Austria over the crescent banners of the Turks.

1700

The 18th century also played a great role in the history of French foods, and it was really during this time in particular that the appeal of French food began to grow with the prestige of French culture. The restaurant movement also began around this time and there was a new journalistic breed coming about, namely including food critics and restaurant reviewers.

2000

Although the 19th and 20th centuries also had their influences on the history of French foods, it has been the 21st century more than either of those which have played a role. French cuisine is now renowned around the world more than ever before and held high in regard and respect. There is really no other country in the world that takes its cuisine as seriously and significantly as the French,< and French cooking is really not a monolith, but rather it ranges from the olives and seafood of Provence to the butter and roasts of Tours.

There is so much variety with French cuisine, and this is actually one of the most valuable aspects of all that people need to understand and recognize when it comes to the history of French foods. http://www.living-in-france.org

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Something that people often remember when they go to a wedding reception is the food, whether it’s good or bad. Something to consider when you are choosing your wedding menu is your guests.

Yes, it’s your wedding but you are spending a lot of money so you want people to like what is being served. Here are some tips so that people enjoy your reception food.

Give them a choice –

It’s always a good idea to offer your guests a choice on what they would like to eat for your wedding reception. People may have food allergies, so this way they can choose what they would like to eat. Two choices is enough.

Keep it simple –

Just because it’s not something fancy, it doesn’t mean that it won’t be good. If they are faced with something that they aren’t sure what it is, they may be reluctant to eat it so don’t go for things that people cant identify.

Keep it clean –

Everyone at your wedding reception is going to be wearing their best clothes. You want to stay away from food that is very messy or could cause stains that will be hard to remove.

Remember, you are going to be wearing a white dress.The last thing you will want is to have something spill on it that may ruin it, or will be very noticeable.

Think about what you have had in the past at wedding receptions, and what you liked or didn’t like about them. That will help you plan your own wedding reception menu.

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The rich culture of South East Asia lies at the tastiest food in the world. Once known as the land of the spices, the food of the Thais, Filipinos, Vietnamese, and Indonesians are among the most famous exotic creations. Much of the identity of South East Asia lies on the different food that come from unique, yet common backgrounds following the influences of Indian, Chinese, and the European colonizers along with the local flavor.

The food has both common and binding ingredients. These include coconut milk, lemon grass, sugar, basil, fish paste, and chili. To an outsider’s taste buds, this food is described as spicy, tangy and sweet, all mixing together to present a unique taste. Curry, which is an Indian food, has evolved to be a staple dish in South East Asia.

Thai food is the most popular cuisine coming from South East Asia. It takes in five different flavors from the different regions in its traditional kingdoms which are sour, salty, sweet, spicy, and bitter. The famous southern curries are traditional Indian adaptations that have local ingredients like coconut milk. Thai food uses generous servings of fresh spices and fish sauces. Like any other Asian country, rice is the staple food of the Thais. If you travel to Thailand, you will encounter a very unique experience in tasting the different variety of Thai food. The most famous dishes are Pad Thai, and Red Na.

Filipino food meanwhile offers a range of different flavors all scrambled together to present a bulk taste. It is the most unique among South East Asians because it took more foreign influences from their colonizers as compared to their neighbors. As an example, it has more meat than Thai food or Vietnamese food. It also has fewer spices. Instead they use the taste of the meat just like the Spanish and the Americans. Filipino food as compared to South East Asian food is roasted more just like the Western style. This makes Filipino food a popular choice among American and Western tourists.

Like other South East Asia cuisine, Vietnamese cuisine follows the tradition of the Indians and Chinese. It uses a lot of soy sauce and fish sauce, which is both an Indian and Chinese influence. Religion plays a large part on Vietnamese cooking as most dishes are vegetarian as compared to Filipino foods which are very meaty.

Vietnamese food follows the spicy and sweet taste and like any other South East Asian country, rice is the popular choice. Vietnamese cuisine is also known for their rich soup concoctions. These soups along with the countless dishes are very popular in North America, France, and Russia.

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Maybe you heard that your particular brand of dog food is bad for your dog.

Here I will try to explain what to look for as well as the ingredients and how they measure up to what you are currently feeding. Please keep in mind dog food is essential to their health as for most it is their main source of nutrition.

Some easy tips are:

Do not buy dog food that contains BHT or BHA, they are chemical preservatives and could be harmful.
Do not buy food that has by-products in it; these are often left over from is given to the human market. That means by-products could be feet, intestines, necks etc.

Grains that are often difficult to digest like corn, wheat, gluten and soy, are often used as a protein source instead of meat. ñ This is not healthy and in addition can cause allergies.

Now we get into the fun part!

The first 5 ingredients play a significant role in the overall nutritional make up of a dog food

What are the protein sources? I believe the primary source should come from quality animal protein, not vegetable protein or grain. Foods that list 2 or more grains in the first 5 ingredients may have more vegetable protein than animal protein.

What about grains? Two or more grains listed in the first 5 ingredients means your food may have more vegetable protein than animal protein. Grains such as soy, corn, corn gluten and wheat gluten can be difficult to digest, which means less nutrition and more clean up.

Are there by-products? Some manufacturers consider by-products inferior sources of protein and, depending on the source, they can be difficult to digest.

What are the fat sources? Some fats are better than others. We believe the primary fat source in dog food should be animal based because animal fats contain a profile of fatty acids that are easily metabolized and thus are generally more available to the body.

Look for an identifiable animal protein such as “chicken meal” rather a generic term; such as, “poultry meal,” which can contain any fowl (turkey, chicken, geese, etc.).

Some manufacturers use chicken in their pet foods; however, look for Chicken ìMealî Why? Because chicken meat contains a certain amount of moisture in the flesh; however, chicken ìmealî is a concentrated source of chicken protein because most of the water has been removed. Therefore, it only stands to reason that you get a greater ìprotein contentî in 1 pound of chicken meal versus 1 pound of chicken.

Make sure your dog food has bacteria cultures (acidophilus) for easy digestion. Look for vegetables and fiber for anti-oxidants protection, vitamins and minerals.

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The acai berry is strange in the way that only 10% of the berry is actually edible, the main reason for this is it has a large stone which takes up most of the berry. It is a dark purple berry slightly smaller than a grape, acai is more communally mixed with ice cream, meal bars and also energy drinks. The acai berry requires rapid processing after its late harvest.

The acai berry grows in the rain forests of the Amazon in South America and is considered by some as being more than an organic fruit. These rainforests remain untouched by any sort of manufacturing, everything in this region is grown the way it was intended by nature and no mass production is add in any way.

Pronunciation of this fruit is “ah-sigh-ee”, acai, or Euterpe oleracea (Arecaceae) has been seen to excel in healthy attributes and greatly aids metabolism. It is highly promoted by Dr. Nicholas Perricone, a health guru, and best-selling author, calling the acai a “superfood.”

It wasn’t until the turn of the millennium when the acai berry was discovered to be in North America and it hails from the palmberry tree. It usually grows in the Amazon, the natives of this region cultivate the berry and have enjoyed it health producing properties for many years now. Acai is usually consumed as a puree or in a smoothie or milkshake, this drink is more communally served on the Brazilian beaches and tropical resorts, although acai is an acquired taste, as it tastes mostly of wine with a hint of chocolate.

Acai is abundant in anthocyanins, a type of antioxidant that has been proven to combat cholesterol and free radicals, consuming acai has been proven to reduce blood-related disorders and relax the blood vessels. It is also a great help in preventing atherosclerosis and is a powerful combatant of cancer. Red wine is healthy for you because of the anthocyanin content from the grapes. the Acai berry has over X30 the anthocyanin than any grape.

Aside from anthocyanins, another benefit of the acai berry is an acid called aleic acid which is very good for the heart. Oleic acid also keeps a cancer-causing oncogene (this is found in many breast cancer patients) from acting up, Acai is also great for anyone who has any sort of digestive conditions.

Photo: @elinadjan

Acai is good as a dietary supplement, it is very low in fat and cholesterol and yet high in fiber. These benefits are usually found in the skin, the acai skin contains nutrients such as phytosterols, vitamin C, E, manganese, chromium, copper, and even boron as well as a few others including calcium, acai contains more calcium than even milk.

In recent studies have been conducted and acai has other benefits other than the ones that have been mentioned in this article such ailments would include a variety of virus and prostate problems. It also helps improve lipoprotein metabolism and reinforces your immune system. One of the less known attributes of acai is it is said to have very powerful aphrodisiac properties, because of its revitalizing qualities. To produce this aphrodisiac, you need to mix the acai pulp with guarana another fruit grown in South America, although this is the most powerful combination the acai berry can be mixed with any fruit or mixture even milk or beer.

Unfortunately, now the acai berry is not found in any store in the united states this is mainly because the fruit spoils very quickly, the only way that this berry can be got is thought a frozen or pureed form. In Brazi,l the athletes would take the berry as part of their daily diet and consider it a must for a healthy lifestyle

The acai berry is small and although you can find the nutrients that it has elsewhere the difference here is that acai crams all of them into a small space, this has been considered to be a premium way to undertake a good healthy lifestyle.

Other benefits of this amazing berry include greater energy, stamina, digestion and mental stimulation. Drink acai in juice or smoothie form also helps you sleep better at night. Acai also includes more proteins than an egg white, it also serves as a revitalizing agent supplying you with the energy of a speeding train, this is a good way to increase sex drive and performance.

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In your quest to find more natural healing methods and natural supplements to good health, you’re well advised considering the ancient healing methods of the Chinese.

Chinese food therapy, also known as Chinese nutrition therapy, dates back to as early as 2000 BC, though proper documentation about its uses was found around 500 BC. In essence, Chinese food therapy involves the use of certain foods to aid in the healing of certain body ailments or assists in keeping healthy other bodily functions. Followers of food therapy believe in the concept of yin and yang in food; the yin foods are believed to lower the bodyís metabolism, or decrease the bodyís heat, while the yang foods are said to increase the bodyís heat or increase metabolism.

The Chinese believe in four food groups, which are grains, vegetables, fruit, and meats. There is no classification for dairy products, which are considered unsuitable for humans. The Chinese believe a balanced diet will consist of the following food combinations on a daily basis: 40 percent grains, 30 to 40 percent vegetables, 10 to 15 percent meats and the rest of the foods should be nuts and fruits.

In Chinese food therapy, foods are then further classified by taste. The tastes are defined as pungent, salty, bitter, sweet and sour. Each taste is believed to have a direct effect on a body organ; when consumed in moderation it benefits the organ, but if over consumed, can cause detrimental effect to the organ.

Photo: @jeff.garroway

Itís fair to say the Chinese and followers of Chinese food therapy truly believe you ìare what you eatî.

One simple example of Chinese food therapy is the remedy for a cough. The Cantonese cough remedy required apricot kernels, watercress, and dried duck gizzards. The ingredients are slow cooked for several hours, and a bit of pork can be added for flavor (though you canít add beef or chicken because both will nullify the healing effects of the watercress). The watercress removes the excessive amount of yang in the body, while the duck gizzards are added to balance the yin-yang of the recipe. The apricots target the lungs.

Take the time to learn from Chinese healing wisdom – you may just be surprised how it benefits your health.

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Childhood food allergies can be deadly. Take care to protect your child while traveling.

If possible, make sure your child knows and understands the foods they are allergic to and what happens when they eat that food. If traveling to visit friends or family, be sure to inform them of the child’s allergy. Ask them to be diligent in reading labels while your child is visiting.

Some airlines list flight meals on their website. Most airlines provide special meals for those with food allergies if you notify them in advance. Check with your airline for details. However, there is no guarantee that your meal will not be prepared or come in contact with something you are allergic to. Avoid potential problems on the road or airplane by making and packing trip snacks yourself.

Image: @walton_dana121

When eating out, be sure to ask servers about offending ingredients and avoid roadside stands and unlicensed eating establishments.

Different countries have different food labeling laws. Make sure you know the labeling laws and customs for the country you are visiting. Also, you and your child must know how to effectively communicate the name of the food and severity of the allergy in the language of every country you visit.

The food allergic child should wear a medical alert bracelet at all times. In an emergency, parents may not be available to give information to medical personnel.

Carry your child’s allergy medication and emergency injectable with you at all times. The medications should go where ever the child goes.

Keep doctor’s phone number and local emergency numbers handy.

If traveling out of the country consider purchasing pre-printed cards with your child’s food allergy information printed on them. You order cards from a company called Select Wisely. Cards come in many languages and cover any allergy or combination of allergies.

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