Posts Tagged “food”
Ross • 7th Oct 2009 • Learning, Thinking • economics, food, health, MPA, new york, nutrition, policy, policy analysis, public health, usa
Via the blog Cheep Talk, I came across a good example for the policy analysis unit of my Masters course.
The New York Times reports that although people say that they make healthier choices when calorie-counts are displayed on fast-food menus, based on evidence from their receipts, the opposite is in fact true. At least in some areas, people are, on average, ordering more calories than before the labelling requirements were introduced.
This is a useful counter-factual for the type of ‘libertarian paternalism’ promoted in Sunstein and Thaler’s pop-policy book, Nudge.
For what it’s worth, I think that this example may be skewed by the demographic in the poorer areas in which receipts were collected. Perhaps people are maximising their calories per dollar. This is, in many ways, the natural human instinct.
The recession may also play a role here. I would be interested to know if this receipt-collection exercise had a control – a measurement of whether calorie consumption had gone up in similar cities where these measures had not be introduced. Without that, how can you rule out the possibility that people comfort-eat in a recession?
Ross • 6th Oct 2009 • Living • burgers, food, Friends, london
A simian friend of mine has recently started a blog about his quest to find the perfect burger in London. He’s asked if I’ll help on this quest (of course!) I am hoping that it might turn into a London version of Tyler Cowen’s Ethnic Dining Guide, albeit with a more restricted menu. Tyler would be pleased to note that there are at least two BBQ places (and a crabshack) on the itinerary.
Incidentally, I don’t currently link to my blogging friends enough. This I shall remedy.
Ross • 1st Sep 2009 • Living • biking, food, Friends, holidays, isle of wight, motorbikes, summer, travel, vacation
Helen and I spent the long weekend motorbiking around the Isle of Wight with some good friends who are also bikers. We all had a great time, and the weather held wonderfully. I can wholeheartedly recommend:
- The Lake Hotel, Bonchurch – although this wasn’t our first choice of accommodation, the Lake has some great lounges, a lovely garden and the perfect location
- The New Inn, Main Road, Shalfleet – a charming country pub in a lovely spot, with local food, good beer and raised decked area to the rear
- Cachalot Charters – fishing trips from Bembridge marina, £26 for four hours mackerelling and sea angling
- The Tea Shop in Freshwater Bay – proper clotted cream and a nice garden, although the tea was a little disappointing
- The Military Road – running along the south-west coast of the island, this road is a blast on bikes – with stunning views towards the Needles if you’re heading West
I was less keen on The Spyglass, a pub on the front at Ventnor, which had Ringwood beer and huge portions of hearty pub food, but was a bit crowded and dark; the Pond Café in Bonchurch, which had top-class food (and prices) but disinterested service, despite having only five tables; and Red Funnel ferries, which, despite good onboard accommodation and a good outward crossing, made a total hash of loading the ferry out of Cowes on the return leg. I would also advise strongly against riding pillion on the back of a Suzuki GSXR, especially after a wine-tasting. Some photos will appear on Flickr soon.
Ross • 30th Jun 2009 • Living • chocolate, food, marketing
I am a member of BzzAgent, a recommendation-driven marketing agency. The deal is that BzzAgents (like me) get samples of products, which, if they like, they refer to their friends.
The first campaign I have been assigned was for Seeds of Change chocolate, to my wife’s delight. I was sent samples of Orange and Fig (odd but lovely) and Apricot and Cashew (less strange, more tasty) and some discount vouchers. It’s a great promotional idea, and great chocolate. I have passed on some vouchers to friends and family, who are suitably grateful. You can check out the Seeds of Change range here, but for some reason, they don’t mention the chocolate. Surely it can’t be a secret?
Ross • 8th May 2009 • Learning, Living • alcohol, dalits, drinking, food, india, poverty, soup
The Economist’s persistent marketing of their lifestyle magazine, Intelligent Life, may be working on me. Occasionally, they send free copies to Economist subscribers. The Spring 2009 issue is excellent, as is the magazine’s website. Favourite bits so far:
- Veggie recipes for meaties - I like the look of the bread soup.
- The return of the ‘power breakfast’, with a good breakfast restaurant recommendation for Chicago.
- A photo essay about India’s bonded labourer Dalits, which was very moving, but which I can’t find online. I may post more on Dalits. Their suffering seems so utterly incomprehensible and shameful.
- This piece on drinking alcohol comes pretty close to my position and experience.
Counterbalanced against this, there were some poor articles too. The ‘cover story’ – on the (over)use of the word ‘iconic’ was utterly mundane.
