New Research: Your Weight is a Reflection of Where You Shop
Recently, a friend passed along a news article to me that I thought was pretty interesting, “Pricey grocery stores attract skinniest shoppers.” As the article explained, “The percentage of food shoppers who are obese is almost 10 times higher at low-cost grocery stores compared with upscale markets.” Albeit a small study, the findings underscore poverty as a key factor in our obesity epidemic.
The article continued with a note from the study’s lead author, Adam Drewnowski, a University of Washington epidemiology professor who studies obesity and social class, “That’s likely because people willing to pay $6 for a pound of radicchio are more able to afford healthy diets than people stocking up on $1.88 packs of pizza rolls to feed their kids.”
I agree that income is certainly a driving factor behind our food choices. And, when you’re stretching every dollar, you look for ways to cut costs at the store.
For years, the food industry has led us down the path to believing that prepared, packaged foods are more economical than buying fresh fruits and vegetables or even whole grains. Add to this, the marketing dollars spent in promoting a wide variety of convenient, fast, and low-cost options from pizza rolls and cinnamon rolls, to mega-sized burgers and pseudo-Mexican fare all at rock bottom prices, and why wouldn’t we ascribe to the notion that we’re getting a great deal on our food.
To me, it seems as if price is the main driving factor our food choices, especially when less-than-healthy food is offered at extremely reasonable price. With that thought in mind, I wonder what would happen if consumers were offered low prices for less of that same food – for instance, $1.88 for one pizza roll? I’ll bet that there would be a rebellion, simply because Americans have been programmed to expect lots of food for very little money – regardless of how healthy it is for them.
But, low cost and massive amounts of food are only two pieces of the pie. Knowledge and the value one places on food make up the other portions of the pie. Yet, knowing that certain food choices are better than others doesn’t mean that Americans are ready to make the change. What is required is a paradigm shift in the way we have been eating for so long. To break this low-price mindset takes more than raising our incomes, it takes raising awareness of our what we consume and how much of it we consume.
As I try to digest the findings from this study, I am drawn to the words Michael Pollan wrote in one of his books – and I will paraphrase – “eat better, whole foods, and eat less of them.” I agree with him. It is not an elitist attitude, instead it is an attitude grounded in what I feel is best for myself and my family. I ascribe to this philosophy because I believe that our choices for food affect us today, as well as in the future.
Generally, my food choices are based on health, quality, taste, and of course, price. Convenience is an occasional factor, but certainly not an overriding one. The reason I choose the food that I do is because I have the knowledge about food, the knowledge about how to make healthier choices, and a lifestyle that embraces the connection between food and the health of our bodies, our minds, and our families. That isn’t to say we shun all unhealthy choices, it just means we make food choices based upon our lifestyle, our set of values and our knowledge about food.
This study highlights income as a driving force behind our food choices. It reinforces the notion that unhealthy food is cheap and healthy food is expensive. As reported, all of the stores in his study stocked a wide range of nutritious food, including plenty of fruits and vegetables. So, why are the shoppers choosing foods like pizza rolls? The study contends that the reason is because healthy, low-calorie foods cost more money and take more effort to prepare than processed, high-calorie foods.
In fact, in a separate study two years ago, Drewnowski, estimated that a calorie-dense diet cost $3.52 a day compared with $36.32 a day for a low-calorie diet. Now, I’m not so sure about that price difference, because if I fed my family of 6 for $36.32 each a day, I’d be spending more than $1,500 a week on food! That is an alarming message that we need to stop sending to consumers. I don’t spend that much for food in a month!
The current study found that (in the Seattle region), the average market basket at the three high-priced grocery stores (which included Whole Foods) cost between $370 and $420. By contrast, at the area’s three lowest-priced stores, including Albertsons, the same basket of food cost between $225 and $280.
Too often Whole Foods is referred to as Whole Paycheck. But as I have found in my recent grocery shopping experiment (as reported in a recent Family Eats blog), I actually spent more money shopping at Safeway than I did at Whole Foods. (And a friend recently confirmed she found the same to be true).
Today, I mix my shopping between Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods and I spend between $170 and $210 a week for a family of six—less than the average market basket at the three lowest-priced grocery stores in the study. (I did a cost of living analysis between San Francisco and Seattle, and it revealed that San Francisco is indeed a more costly place to live – so if you factor in the 31% higher prices where I live, then I really did a better job at shopping).
To some extent, price may factor into our food choices, (for instance, I opt to hold off from buying certain fruits and vegetables if I feel the price is just too high), but I think for the most part, we’ve been brainwashed to believe that eating a healthy diet is too expensive for us.
Instead of highlighting the relationship between eating healthy and the amount of money we have—or don’t have--in our wallets, perhaps we should highlight how easy and relatively convenient it is to prepare great tasting and healthful meals from scratch using whole foods. To do this, we don’t need a degree from the Culinary Institute of America, instead, we need a reminder of how delicious, nutritious and easy to enjoy whole foods are. After all, how hard is it to pick up an apple and bite into it?
FoodBuzz
Sunday, June 06, 2010
Thursday, August 20, 2009
The Diet Coke Diet
Wednesday morning, coffee in hand, I hit the computer to peruse food and dining sections in newspapers. While reading the When Parents Scream Against Ice Cream article in the NYTimes, I am deep into agreement with some of the moms. I, too, cringe when I hear the tingle of the ice cream truck. I can still remember running up the stairs of our duplex in Cleveland with my brother, begging Mom to give us a penny for some ice cream(or whatever it cost 40 + years ago), only to break down in tears because we had missed him. We had missed him because he drove away, there wasn’t anyone on the street clamoring to buy ice cream. The driver couldn’t see me as I was scurrying up the stairs to ask Mom for money. So he moved on. Today, those ice cream trucks sit and sit, and sit. I think the sounds of joy to the operators is the incessant whining of children, whose parents often give in just to shut them up.
I’m immersed in my thoughts of the ice cream truck – on the fence of whether they’re good or bad, when something catches my eye. It’s the Diet Coke banner ad at the top of the page. An ad I would typically ignore, since I don’t drink soda. But, it is the words that appear alongside the can of Diet Coke that make me take a second look – and, even make me click!
Next to that well-known can runs the words “Let’s Do Lunch,” “Your Dinner Date,” and “Every Meal Delicious” A tab on the ad tempts a click-through with the words “Visit the Diet Coke Kitchen.” Yes, they’ve tempted me. – I click.
The Diet Coke Kitchen.
My first thought, “How ridiculous,” a site dedicated to recipes made using diet coke.
My second thought, “How ridiculous,” a company known for its predatory advertising to children, a company whose product is a big cog in the wheel of America’s freight train of obesity, is offering up advice on good eating habits.
My third thought, “How ridiculous,” to add some credibility to their efforts, they’ve signed on a chef to be the spokesperson for the site.
All I know, is that this association – Diet Coke and Eating Well – just don’t mix. After quite some time on the site, I’m still confused. To me, there is such a disconnection between good eating and Diet Coke that I’m baffled at their attempt to try to set themselves into the realm of healthy eating. You don’t fool me Coke. And, even if the recipe for Moroccan Lemon Chicken with Mango Chutney sounds tasty, just for spite of it, I WILL NOT not try it!
(Sorry Chef Tom Colicchio. I’m disappointed that you chose this as your venue to showcase your talent.)
You’ve heard it before:
The number one source of calories in youth in America comes from drinking soda.
The United States ranks first among countries in soft drink consumption. The per-capita consumption of soft drinks is in excess of 150 quarts per year, or about three quarts per week.
The relationship between soft drink consumption and body weight is so strong that researchers calculate that for each additional soda consumed, the risk of obesity increases 1.6 times.
Soda consumption affects obesity, bone density, the heart, and, don’t get me started on the ill effects of the poisonous sweetener they use.
To me it doesn’t matter if the ad had a can of Diet Coke on it, but it is still associated with “The Real Thing.” Diet Coke drinkers are still susceptible to negative affects that come with consuming that three quarts a week – including the acidic affects of the soda on one’s teeth, and the poisonous effects of the artificial sweeteners they use. (Check out the Low-down on low-calorie sweeteners tab – what a farce). The rate at which Americans are addicted to sodas is alarming, even so much that it has the attention of those over at Fox News who have reported that Soda May Seriously Harm Your Health.
My favorite section of the site is the section Wellness & Balance. I click and come to the tab “ Quench Your Thirst: Find out how much fluid you need a day.”
I click, and see the copy reading “All Beverages Hydrate.” According to the site, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences has found that all beverages, including those with caffeine, contribute to total daily hydration. If you’re not in the mood for water, it’s OK to drink something else you enjoy like a sports drink, tea, or soft drink.”
There you have it, they are assuring us that Coke is a trusted friend, citing research that lets us know, we can have a soda as part of our daily fluid intake. Forget about mentioning the fact that soda is probably at the bottom of the list of hydrating beverages recommendations from the Academy (I’m making a somewhat educated guess on this point). “Go ahead, if you don’t want water, certainly don’t drink juice, have a soda and don’t feel guilty. Just make one of the recipes on our site, and everything will be alright.”
Suffice to say, I’m appalled. I know I’ve got soda-drinking friends out there, and I’m not averse to partaking in one myself time and gain. (Although to me, water, coffee and tea will do just fine – oh, and a bit of wine.)
My problem is, that I see this as yet another way to deceive the public, get their product brand embedded so deeply into our psyche that we begin to think “Coke is good for me. Coke = healthy eating. Coke is right there by my side helping me loose that extra 100 pounds.
Or rather, should I say: Coke is it.
Wednesday morning, coffee in hand, I hit the computer to peruse food and dining sections in newspapers. While reading the When Parents Scream Against Ice Cream article in the NYTimes, I am deep into agreement with some of the moms. I, too, cringe when I hear the tingle of the ice cream truck. I can still remember running up the stairs of our duplex in Cleveland with my brother, begging Mom to give us a penny for some ice cream(or whatever it cost 40 + years ago), only to break down in tears because we had missed him. We had missed him because he drove away, there wasn’t anyone on the street clamoring to buy ice cream. The driver couldn’t see me as I was scurrying up the stairs to ask Mom for money. So he moved on. Today, those ice cream trucks sit and sit, and sit. I think the sounds of joy to the operators is the incessant whining of children, whose parents often give in just to shut them up.
I’m immersed in my thoughts of the ice cream truck – on the fence of whether they’re good or bad, when something catches my eye. It’s the Diet Coke banner ad at the top of the page. An ad I would typically ignore, since I don’t drink soda. But, it is the words that appear alongside the can of Diet Coke that make me take a second look – and, even make me click!
Next to that well-known can runs the words “Let’s Do Lunch,” “Your Dinner Date,” and “Every Meal Delicious” A tab on the ad tempts a click-through with the words “Visit the Diet Coke Kitchen.” Yes, they’ve tempted me. – I click.
The Diet Coke Kitchen.
My first thought, “How ridiculous,” a site dedicated to recipes made using diet coke.
My second thought, “How ridiculous,” a company known for its predatory advertising to children, a company whose product is a big cog in the wheel of America’s freight train of obesity, is offering up advice on good eating habits.
My third thought, “How ridiculous,” to add some credibility to their efforts, they’ve signed on a chef to be the spokesperson for the site.
All I know, is that this association – Diet Coke and Eating Well – just don’t mix. After quite some time on the site, I’m still confused. To me, there is such a disconnection between good eating and Diet Coke that I’m baffled at their attempt to try to set themselves into the realm of healthy eating. You don’t fool me Coke. And, even if the recipe for Moroccan Lemon Chicken with Mango Chutney sounds tasty, just for spite of it, I WILL NOT not try it!
(Sorry Chef Tom Colicchio. I’m disappointed that you chose this as your venue to showcase your talent.)
You’ve heard it before:
The number one source of calories in youth in America comes from drinking soda.
The United States ranks first among countries in soft drink consumption. The per-capita consumption of soft drinks is in excess of 150 quarts per year, or about three quarts per week.
The relationship between soft drink consumption and body weight is so strong that researchers calculate that for each additional soda consumed, the risk of obesity increases 1.6 times.
Soda consumption affects obesity, bone density, the heart, and, don’t get me started on the ill effects of the poisonous sweetener they use.
To me it doesn’t matter if the ad had a can of Diet Coke on it, but it is still associated with “The Real Thing.” Diet Coke drinkers are still susceptible to negative affects that come with consuming that three quarts a week – including the acidic affects of the soda on one’s teeth, and the poisonous effects of the artificial sweeteners they use. (Check out the Low-down on low-calorie sweeteners tab – what a farce). The rate at which Americans are addicted to sodas is alarming, even so much that it has the attention of those over at Fox News who have reported that Soda May Seriously Harm Your Health.
My favorite section of the site is the section Wellness & Balance. I click and come to the tab “ Quench Your Thirst: Find out how much fluid you need a day.”
I click, and see the copy reading “All Beverages Hydrate.” According to the site, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences has found that all beverages, including those with caffeine, contribute to total daily hydration. If you’re not in the mood for water, it’s OK to drink something else you enjoy like a sports drink, tea, or soft drink.”
There you have it, they are assuring us that Coke is a trusted friend, citing research that lets us know, we can have a soda as part of our daily fluid intake. Forget about mentioning the fact that soda is probably at the bottom of the list of hydrating beverages recommendations from the Academy (I’m making a somewhat educated guess on this point). “Go ahead, if you don’t want water, certainly don’t drink juice, have a soda and don’t feel guilty. Just make one of the recipes on our site, and everything will be alright.”
Suffice to say, I’m appalled. I know I’ve got soda-drinking friends out there, and I’m not averse to partaking in one myself time and gain. (Although to me, water, coffee and tea will do just fine – oh, and a bit of wine.)
My problem is, that I see this as yet another way to deceive the public, get their product brand embedded so deeply into our psyche that we begin to think “Coke is good for me. Coke = healthy eating. Coke is right there by my side helping me loose that extra 100 pounds.
Or rather, should I say: Coke is it.
Monday, May 05, 2008
Hot Dogs and Milk Chocolate
On last evening’s flight back from Minneapolis, where I was attending the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s annual conference and exhibition, I grabbed my barely opened copy of In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan. I had 3 ½ hours of uninterrupted time (for the most part) to read his latest on eating in America. With my pen handy to mark those tidbits of information I might find useful, I came across one that I have since revisited several times.
In Chapter 10, Pollan notes a recent study by Paul Rozin, a psychologist, who presented Americans with a statement: “Assuming you are alone on a desert island for one year and you can have water and one other food. Pick the food that you think would be best for your health.”
The choices he offered were corn, alfalfa sprouts, hot dogs, spinach, peaches, bananas and milk chocolate. What the Americans surveyed chose was :
42% bananas
27% spinach
12% corn
7% alfalfa sprouts
5% peaches
4 % hot dogs
3% milk chocolate
As Pollan also notes, “only 7 percent of the participants chose one of the two foods that would in fact best support survival: hot dogs and milk chocolate.” The point he follows up with is that we are so obsessed with eating the right foods – or rather, the foods that media and research deem to be healthy – that we cannot decipher what is truly best for ourselves. Bottom line, we’re confused.
I, too, would not have chosen hotdogs or milk chocolate - although I did pause for a moment to consider (seriously consider) chocolate. Instead I glanced at each, trying to make a careful assessment. Spinach, hmm, a source of iron, might be a good choice; Sprouts nope, I can’t stomach them; bananas, I will need potassium . . . and so on down the list.
When I turned the page to find out what the two foods that would best support survival, I was initially upset that I couldn’t pass the ‘test’ After all, I think I know something about healthful eating.
My next thought was my children. With the exception of sprouts, I feed my children all of those foods. And, what is it that they are drawn to? You guessed it, hot dogs and milk chocolate. Perhaps they’re telling us something? I do remember having a discussion with my pediatrician a while back about my daughter’s obsession with pasta, crackers and bread. I worried that she would be eating too many carbs: Would she be setting herself up to fight this obsession later in life? And, was she missing out on other nutrients in her daily intake? As he pointed out, children eat their nutrients over a period of time, so he asked me to take a look at the foods she ate over a week. Did she get a broad range of other foods? Also, he did tell me that kids will eat what they need – she was eating lots of carbs because she was growing and very active. When she desired fruit, -- or rather, he body craved it, she would eat it. This simple advice from the pediatrician brought me back to reality when it comes to eating. My worries were a result of my media-driven belief that too many carbs are not healthy. And, in order to consume the correct nutrients – vitamins, minerals, etc., you must focus on nutrients found in specific foods . . . much like my mind roamed as I tried to figure out which food I was to choose for my life on a desert island.
Perhaps nutritionists should stop studying adults and their eating habits, and look to children, specifically toddlers, and what foods they crave. Because it appears as if my children would last much longer on the desert island (having chosen hot dogs or milk chocolate), than I would with my leaves of spinach.
On last evening’s flight back from Minneapolis, where I was attending the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s annual conference and exhibition, I grabbed my barely opened copy of In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan. I had 3 ½ hours of uninterrupted time (for the most part) to read his latest on eating in America. With my pen handy to mark those tidbits of information I might find useful, I came across one that I have since revisited several times.
In Chapter 10, Pollan notes a recent study by Paul Rozin, a psychologist, who presented Americans with a statement: “Assuming you are alone on a desert island for one year and you can have water and one other food. Pick the food that you think would be best for your health.”
The choices he offered were corn, alfalfa sprouts, hot dogs, spinach, peaches, bananas and milk chocolate. What the Americans surveyed chose was :
42% bananas
27% spinach
12% corn
7% alfalfa sprouts
5% peaches
4 % hot dogs
3% milk chocolate
As Pollan also notes, “only 7 percent of the participants chose one of the two foods that would in fact best support survival: hot dogs and milk chocolate.” The point he follows up with is that we are so obsessed with eating the right foods – or rather, the foods that media and research deem to be healthy – that we cannot decipher what is truly best for ourselves. Bottom line, we’re confused.
I, too, would not have chosen hotdogs or milk chocolate - although I did pause for a moment to consider (seriously consider) chocolate. Instead I glanced at each, trying to make a careful assessment. Spinach, hmm, a source of iron, might be a good choice; Sprouts nope, I can’t stomach them; bananas, I will need potassium . . . and so on down the list.
When I turned the page to find out what the two foods that would best support survival, I was initially upset that I couldn’t pass the ‘test’ After all, I think I know something about healthful eating.
My next thought was my children. With the exception of sprouts, I feed my children all of those foods. And, what is it that they are drawn to? You guessed it, hot dogs and milk chocolate. Perhaps they’re telling us something? I do remember having a discussion with my pediatrician a while back about my daughter’s obsession with pasta, crackers and bread. I worried that she would be eating too many carbs: Would she be setting herself up to fight this obsession later in life? And, was she missing out on other nutrients in her daily intake? As he pointed out, children eat their nutrients over a period of time, so he asked me to take a look at the foods she ate over a week. Did she get a broad range of other foods? Also, he did tell me that kids will eat what they need – she was eating lots of carbs because she was growing and very active. When she desired fruit, -- or rather, he body craved it, she would eat it. This simple advice from the pediatrician brought me back to reality when it comes to eating. My worries were a result of my media-driven belief that too many carbs are not healthy. And, in order to consume the correct nutrients – vitamins, minerals, etc., you must focus on nutrients found in specific foods . . . much like my mind roamed as I tried to figure out which food I was to choose for my life on a desert island.
Perhaps nutritionists should stop studying adults and their eating habits, and look to children, specifically toddlers, and what foods they crave. Because it appears as if my children would last much longer on the desert island (having chosen hot dogs or milk chocolate), than I would with my leaves of spinach.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Today we sipped up the last drop of lambda olive oil. We received the 500 ml bottle of the oil from Krista, Crete as a sample only about 8 weeks ago, and I was a bit reluctant to use it for just anything. After all, that 500 ml bottle retails for about $59 (at the current exchange rate) – that is more than twice the amount I spend for my 365 brand 3L tin.
I carefully dolled it out to the family - a separate dipping oil plate for myself and my husband, our usual 365 brand olive oil for the kids to dip bread in. My son, not yet 5, quickly realized we were enjoying something different and demanded that he try ours. He reached across the table, dipped - OK, dunked - his bread in, dripped the oil on the table as he brought it back to his mouth (of course I immediately mopped up the oil with my bread), and took a big bite. His nose wrinkled and he said that it tasted like grass. I felt relieved on two fronts. First, that he could properly discern the flavor profile of this oil, and secondly, that he wasn't fond of the fresh and fruity flavor of lambda. He never dipped in our lambda again.
My husband took a bit heavier hand in using the oil than I did. "Hey, we've got to REALLY try it out," was his response. “And, it says to use it as soon as possible to ensure the freshest of flavor!”
I acquiesced, and we took to using it for dressings, dips, drizzling . . the usual olive oil fare. In addition to its intensely fruit flavor (and low acidity), the deep green color is complemented by the dazzling glass container. It looked pretty impressive sitting on the counter.
The problem is, we really enjoyed lambda. And, since we’ve experimented with the multitude of ways to enjoy using lambda, things could really get dangerous if we decided to replace our $25, 3L tin of olive oil with lambda. I surely would be surpassing my olive oil budget.
Then again, sometimes you just have to indulge . . . I guess the kids can go without a new pair of shoes this summer.
To conduct your own experiment, order some from Speiron Company.
I carefully dolled it out to the family - a separate dipping oil plate for myself and my husband, our usual 365 brand olive oil for the kids to dip bread in. My son, not yet 5, quickly realized we were enjoying something different and demanded that he try ours. He reached across the table, dipped - OK, dunked - his bread in, dripped the oil on the table as he brought it back to his mouth (of course I immediately mopped up the oil with my bread), and took a big bite. His nose wrinkled and he said that it tasted like grass. I felt relieved on two fronts. First, that he could properly discern the flavor profile of this oil, and secondly, that he wasn't fond of the fresh and fruity flavor of lambda. He never dipped in our lambda again.
My husband took a bit heavier hand in using the oil than I did. "Hey, we've got to REALLY try it out," was his response. “And, it says to use it as soon as possible to ensure the freshest of flavor!”
I acquiesced, and we took to using it for dressings, dips, drizzling . . the usual olive oil fare. In addition to its intensely fruit flavor (and low acidity), the deep green color is complemented by the dazzling glass container. It looked pretty impressive sitting on the counter.
The problem is, we really enjoyed lambda. And, since we’ve experimented with the multitude of ways to enjoy using lambda, things could really get dangerous if we decided to replace our $25, 3L tin of olive oil with lambda. I surely would be surpassing my olive oil budget.
Then again, sometimes you just have to indulge . . . I guess the kids can go without a new pair of shoes this summer.
To conduct your own experiment, order some from Speiron Company.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
For all you espresso lovers who have to have their fix whenever and wherever they are, the new Handpresso is coming to market. Dubbed “The World’s Smallest Espresso Machine,” the compact, hand-powered unit is the ultimate in Nomadic Espresso. The lightweight unit required a bit of hand pumping, much like you would do if you’re bike tire went flat during an excursion. A small gauge on the handle lets you know when you’ve pumped your way to the approprate amount of pressure (16 bars) required to brew espresso. Handpresso requires only an E.E.E. pod and hot water and you’re ready to brew and enjoy in just seconds. Plop it in your luggage – heck, carry it on the plane with you – take it on a hike, go camping – I tasted espresso brewed in one, and it turned out pretty good. Check it out here.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
OK, a bit off of topic, but at least it is holiday inspired . .
An Interview with Santa
With the 2007 Holiday season upon us, the continued recall of many children’s toys due to excessive levels of lead paint and concern about toxic levels of PVC used in toys has left many parents wondering which toys will be safe to purchase for their children. Following is an interview with Santa, who discusses how he is dealing with the current crisis.
With the holiday season upon us, what is the big, in-demand toy this year?
Santa: This year, it isn’t any specific toy that is in demand. Because of the recent spate of toy recalls due to lead paint, and concern about PVC used in plastic toys, parents are demanding an assurance that all toys are produced using high-quality materials that are fully traceable back to source – all in an effort to ensure the toys their children play with are safe and free of dangerous chemicals and other substances. What this has translated into is a renewed demand for hand-crafted, classic toys that spark the imagination of children.
Well, isn’t that what your Elves are trained for: To hand-make, imaginative toys with care?
Santa: Yes, the Elves have always prided themselves on producing the best quality toys. Through the years they enjoyed creating traditional trains, dolls and blocks, for example, but as technology has advanced, they also have added a contemporary twist to these toys such as a new color, a designer wardrobe for a doll, or electronics that teach children how to spell in another language.
You look a bit worried and haggard. Are you anticipating too big of a demand for toys?
Santa: In recent times, demand has been especially high as parents have asked me to deliver more and more toys for their children. This is in contrast to my early years when one high-quality, hand-made toy was all that was needed to make a child excited on Christmas morning.
Unfortunately my workshops are empty this year. Like so many other industries, market demand and increased competition from low-cost mass producers drove me to cut costs. The only way I could compete was to outsource the production of Christmas toys to China where labor and production costs were a fraction of what I was paying my Elves. With China easily meeting the increasing demand for more toys, and producing them at a fraction of the amount it cost me to pay my Elves, my only choice was to let my workforce go and outsource to China.
Wow, how did you handle laying off the Elves? You had worked together for so many years.
Santa: It was the hardest thing I ever had to do. Mrs. Claus begged me to reconsider. To think about the Elves and their families. To think about how loyal they had been to me through the years, and how their skill in making toys couldn’t be replicated if made elsewhere. But she too knew, deep down, that if we were ever to continue to be the primary supplier of toys for Christmas that we had to keep up with parents’ increasing demands and move production to a cheaper locale.
How hands-on were you with the production and the quality control once manufacturing moved to China?
Santa: I never thought for a moment that the toys I was now buying from China would be of lesser quality than those the Elves produced in the workshop. I didn’t personally visit each factory, and perhaps that was one of my downfalls. Now because I let market forces, rather than my heart, drive my decision, poor quality, shoddy construction and poisonous paint have marred my reputation as the primary supplier of toys for children at Christmastime.
How will you deal with the current crisis?
Santa: As I mentioned, parents are once again asking me to produce hand-crafted high quality toys – much like those the Elves made years ago. Now with my workforce gone, and no way parents or the Consumer Products Safety Commission would allow me to deliver toys made in China, I’m not really sure. When I downsized, many of my Elves who had been with me for 20 or more years took early retirement, while the more novice Elves simply changed their profession and have moved on. Many took call center jobs in Indonesia.
My credibility within the toy industry is marred. I now have the same reputation that many other big businesses do, in that the consumers view me as solely dedicated to the bottom line instead of the quality of the product and the people who devoted themselves to me for so long. I’m not sure I can find a dedicated, experienced job force willing to commit to the long hours necessary during this time of the year.
Well then, how will you keep up with demand?
Santa: To help keep up with demand this year, I have contacted many grandparents who, in their own retirement, have taken up the hobby of hand-making classic toys for their own grandchildren. With so many Baby Boomer-grandparents around the world reaching retirement age, I am looking to build relationships with many of them to produce their specialties, whether it is wooden trains, hand-sewn dolls or whatever toy they enjoy making.
Will you continue to work with this skilled labor force in coming years?
Santa: Definitely! The Elves’ quarters are now in the process of being converted into a vacation timeshare where grandparents can visit for one to two weeks each year. During that time, they will have access to my workshop, tools and materials to create some truly spectacular classic toys. By working with a wide network of grandparents from around the world, no single grandparent will feel the pressure of having to mass-produce toys in an assembly line fashion. Instead they can produce at their own pace, putting a bit of love into every toy they create.
That sounds a bit like your old business model when you had the Elves on board.
Santa: Yes it is. I have learned my lesson the hard way. But I think those grandparents can remember the joy they had when they found one special toy under the tree when they were children. Now they can help me bring that joy to their grandchildren. Through this expanding network of “Grandparent Elves” I feel that I will be able to fill the stockings of children around the world with toys that inspire the imagination of children once again.
An Interview with Santa
With the 2007 Holiday season upon us, the continued recall of many children’s toys due to excessive levels of lead paint and concern about toxic levels of PVC used in toys has left many parents wondering which toys will be safe to purchase for their children. Following is an interview with Santa, who discusses how he is dealing with the current crisis.
With the holiday season upon us, what is the big, in-demand toy this year?
Santa: This year, it isn’t any specific toy that is in demand. Because of the recent spate of toy recalls due to lead paint, and concern about PVC used in plastic toys, parents are demanding an assurance that all toys are produced using high-quality materials that are fully traceable back to source – all in an effort to ensure the toys their children play with are safe and free of dangerous chemicals and other substances. What this has translated into is a renewed demand for hand-crafted, classic toys that spark the imagination of children.
Well, isn’t that what your Elves are trained for: To hand-make, imaginative toys with care?
Santa: Yes, the Elves have always prided themselves on producing the best quality toys. Through the years they enjoyed creating traditional trains, dolls and blocks, for example, but as technology has advanced, they also have added a contemporary twist to these toys such as a new color, a designer wardrobe for a doll, or electronics that teach children how to spell in another language.
You look a bit worried and haggard. Are you anticipating too big of a demand for toys?
Santa: In recent times, demand has been especially high as parents have asked me to deliver more and more toys for their children. This is in contrast to my early years when one high-quality, hand-made toy was all that was needed to make a child excited on Christmas morning.
Unfortunately my workshops are empty this year. Like so many other industries, market demand and increased competition from low-cost mass producers drove me to cut costs. The only way I could compete was to outsource the production of Christmas toys to China where labor and production costs were a fraction of what I was paying my Elves. With China easily meeting the increasing demand for more toys, and producing them at a fraction of the amount it cost me to pay my Elves, my only choice was to let my workforce go and outsource to China.
Wow, how did you handle laying off the Elves? You had worked together for so many years.
Santa: It was the hardest thing I ever had to do. Mrs. Claus begged me to reconsider. To think about the Elves and their families. To think about how loyal they had been to me through the years, and how their skill in making toys couldn’t be replicated if made elsewhere. But she too knew, deep down, that if we were ever to continue to be the primary supplier of toys for Christmas that we had to keep up with parents’ increasing demands and move production to a cheaper locale.
How hands-on were you with the production and the quality control once manufacturing moved to China?
Santa: I never thought for a moment that the toys I was now buying from China would be of lesser quality than those the Elves produced in the workshop. I didn’t personally visit each factory, and perhaps that was one of my downfalls. Now because I let market forces, rather than my heart, drive my decision, poor quality, shoddy construction and poisonous paint have marred my reputation as the primary supplier of toys for children at Christmastime.
How will you deal with the current crisis?
Santa: As I mentioned, parents are once again asking me to produce hand-crafted high quality toys – much like those the Elves made years ago. Now with my workforce gone, and no way parents or the Consumer Products Safety Commission would allow me to deliver toys made in China, I’m not really sure. When I downsized, many of my Elves who had been with me for 20 or more years took early retirement, while the more novice Elves simply changed their profession and have moved on. Many took call center jobs in Indonesia.
My credibility within the toy industry is marred. I now have the same reputation that many other big businesses do, in that the consumers view me as solely dedicated to the bottom line instead of the quality of the product and the people who devoted themselves to me for so long. I’m not sure I can find a dedicated, experienced job force willing to commit to the long hours necessary during this time of the year.
Well then, how will you keep up with demand?
Santa: To help keep up with demand this year, I have contacted many grandparents who, in their own retirement, have taken up the hobby of hand-making classic toys for their own grandchildren. With so many Baby Boomer-grandparents around the world reaching retirement age, I am looking to build relationships with many of them to produce their specialties, whether it is wooden trains, hand-sewn dolls or whatever toy they enjoy making.
Will you continue to work with this skilled labor force in coming years?
Santa: Definitely! The Elves’ quarters are now in the process of being converted into a vacation timeshare where grandparents can visit for one to two weeks each year. During that time, they will have access to my workshop, tools and materials to create some truly spectacular classic toys. By working with a wide network of grandparents from around the world, no single grandparent will feel the pressure of having to mass-produce toys in an assembly line fashion. Instead they can produce at their own pace, putting a bit of love into every toy they create.
That sounds a bit like your old business model when you had the Elves on board.
Santa: Yes it is. I have learned my lesson the hard way. But I think those grandparents can remember the joy they had when they found one special toy under the tree when they were children. Now they can help me bring that joy to their grandchildren. Through this expanding network of “Grandparent Elves” I feel that I will be able to fill the stockings of children around the world with toys that inspire the imagination of children once again.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Ok. It is the Oreo cookie that has resurrected me from the depths of four kids and lack of sleep. It has been months since I've even attempted to update this blog, but last week I received a Domino's Pizza flier in the mail. I could hold back no longer.
I'm sure you've all seen the flier: In addition to all the calories, fat and other 'unhealthy' things packed in a Domino's Pizza, now (albeit only for a limited time), comes the Oreo Dessert Pizza!
I have yet to try one, but feel I must just to say I have. Although I dread the sick feeling I will undoubtedly have after consuming so much sugar and . . . who knows what!
This decadent concoction features a dessert-style thin crust, topped with vanilla sauce, Oreo cookie crumbles and white icing. My son, who is 4, saw the picture of the 'pizza' and immediately declared "I want one!" What kid wouldn't? A plate full of sugar, goo and stuff kids shouldn't be fed.
If I am to taste this thing, I will have to do it late at night when the kids are sleeping (leaving no remnants for them to find in the morning). Otherwise, if they try it, I'm sure I won't hear the last of it. I want it now!
Who are these people that come up with such ideas. yes, decadence is what desserts are all about, but do we have to go overboard and entice anyone who has already consumed a boatload of unhealthy calories via the pizza, with another artery clogging, heart-stopping, offering?
Yes, I will succumb, and try a bite. But will quickly return to something that won't take 10 years off my life . . .
perhaps a bit of fruit. Hmm, maybe even a piece of cake - but at least I know what I put in my cake!
I'm sure you've all seen the flier: In addition to all the calories, fat and other 'unhealthy' things packed in a Domino's Pizza, now (albeit only for a limited time), comes the Oreo Dessert Pizza!
I have yet to try one, but feel I must just to say I have. Although I dread the sick feeling I will undoubtedly have after consuming so much sugar and . . . who knows what!
This decadent concoction features a dessert-style thin crust, topped with vanilla sauce, Oreo cookie crumbles and white icing. My son, who is 4, saw the picture of the 'pizza' and immediately declared "I want one!" What kid wouldn't? A plate full of sugar, goo and stuff kids shouldn't be fed.
If I am to taste this thing, I will have to do it late at night when the kids are sleeping (leaving no remnants for them to find in the morning). Otherwise, if they try it, I'm sure I won't hear the last of it. I want it now!
Who are these people that come up with such ideas. yes, decadence is what desserts are all about, but do we have to go overboard and entice anyone who has already consumed a boatload of unhealthy calories via the pizza, with another artery clogging, heart-stopping, offering?
Yes, I will succumb, and try a bite. But will quickly return to something that won't take 10 years off my life . . .
perhaps a bit of fruit. Hmm, maybe even a piece of cake - but at least I know what I put in my cake!
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