On "The Biggest Loser" (yeah, I know...) this week, the two trainers
visited high schools to educate students in healthy eating and exercise.
They showed produce to students and asked them to identify it. I'm
sure they edited out anyone who knew the correct answers, but they still
found plenty of students who had no idea what the eggplant was. One
student thought the asparagus was radishes. Now, I don't care for
eggplant, but I can identify it.

--Charlene

--
The price one pays for pursuing any profession or calling is an intimate
knowledge of its ugly side. -- James Baldwin, US author (1924-1987)


email perronnellec at earthlink . net

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Charlene Charette wrote:
> On "The Biggest Loser" (yeah, I know...) this week, the two trainers
> visited high schools to educate students in healthy eating and exercise.
> They showed produce to students and asked them to identify it. I'm
> sure they edited out anyone who knew the correct answers, but they still
> found plenty of students who had no idea what the eggplant was. One
> student thought the asparagus was radishes. Now, I don't care for
> eggplant, but I can identify it.
>
> --Charlene

I've noticed this for a long time - just watch the checkers at the
supermarket. "What's this?" And then a couple of them will argue
about what kind of chilies those are or what kind of tomato. It should
be required knowledge if they're going to be running a register.

Jamie Oliver did a "what is it" test in Italy (one of the recent
programs) with young grade-school aged kids - they got nearly
everything right. The same test in his home country with its horrible
school meals (that's what he said) produced hardly a single child who
could name any vegetable other than a carrot.

N.

Charlene Charette wrote:
>
> On "The Biggest Loser" (yeah, I know...) this week, the two trainers
> visited high schools to educate students in healthy eating and exercise.
> They showed produce to students and asked them to identify it. I'm
> sure they edited out anyone who knew the correct answers, but they still
> found plenty of students who had no idea what the eggplant was. One
> student thought the asparagus was radishes. Now, I don't care for
> eggplant, but I can identify it.

I few years ago I went into a local grocery store to look for
Seville Oranges. I had heard that they were in local stores and I
know the season is short. I didn't see them so I asked a clerk.
He didn't know what I was talking about so I described them.
"Oh yeah. They are the really tasty oranges". No. Seville
Oranges are disgusting to eat. They are only good for
marmalade. I guess he didn't know his produce either, and he
worked in the produce department.

In article >,
ess says...
> On "The Biggest Loser" (yeah, I know...) this week, the two trainers
> visited high schools to educate students in healthy eating and exercise.
> They showed produce to students and asked them to identify it. I'm
> sure they edited out anyone who knew the correct answers, but they still
> found plenty of students who had no idea what the eggplant was. One
> student thought the asparagus was radishes. Now, I don't care for
> eggplant, but I can identify it.
>

Why should high school students know about produce? It's a lot more
worrisome that they know so little about history, geography, science,
and math.


--
Peter Aitken
Visit my recipe and kitchen myths pages at www.pgacon.com/cooking.htm

Peter A wrote:
>
> Why should high school students know about produce?

Because one would hope that they have been eating it all their lives.
Man should not live on French fries alone!


> It's a lot more worrisome that they know so little about history, geography, science,
> and math.
>

Of course, but those subjects are a lot more abstract and distant than
what they should have found on their plates every night.

gloria p

On Thu, 07 Dec 2006 15:26:59 -0600, Charlene Charette
> wrote:

>but they still
>found plenty of students who had no idea what the eggplant was.

Get a younun' checking you out at the grocery and they don't know
their butts from a turnip....and have to ask you what it is..... So
much for training.

Peter A said...

> Why should high school students know about produce? It's a lot more
> worrisome that they know so little about history, geography, science,
> and math.


History: Where did we eat yesterday?
Geography: Where should we eat today?
Science: Supersize it!
Math: I have a 2 for 1 coupon. How much does that cost?

Nancy2 wrote:
> Charlene Charette wrote:
> > On "The Biggest Loser" (yeah, I know...) this week, the two trainers
> > visited high schools to educate students in healthy eating and exercise.
> > They showed produce to students and asked them to identify it. I'm
> > sure they edited out anyone who knew the correct answers, but they still
> > found plenty of students who had no idea what the eggplant was. One
> > student thought the asparagus was radishes. Now, I don't care for
> > eggplant, but I can identify it.
> >
> > --Charlene
>
> I've noticed this for a long time - just watch the checkers at the
> supermarket. "What's this?" And then a couple of them will argue
> about what kind of chilies those are or what kind of tomato. It should
> be required knowledge if they're going to be running a register.
>
> Jamie Oliver did a "what is it" test in Italy (one of the recent
> programs) with young grade-school aged kids - they got nearly
> everything right. The same test in his home country with its horrible
> school meals (that's what he said) produced hardly a single child who
> could name any vegetable other than a carrot.

I'm not going to say I find that hard to believe because no way do I
believe that at all... you trying to convince me that average 6-7 year
olds with normal brains can't identify veggies like corn, peas, green
beans, potatoes, onions, celery, lettuce, cabbage, tomatoes, cukes,
beets, broccolli, cauliflower, and many, many other common veggies...
they may not know say which variety of potato but most kids will know
it's a potato.

And I don't know about your stupidmarket checkers but those I encounter
pretty much know all the veggies, they may not have the numbers
memorized but they do know which veggie it is... only occasionally one
may not know things like parsnip, endive, fennel bulbs, the difference
in parslsys, stuff like that, but they do know the vast majority.
Perhaps yoose live like in Texas, Oklahoma, or Kentucky, where the only
potatoes anyone knows is fries.

Sheldon

It works in reverse, too. I was once in a strange city looking for an
address that I thought was nearby. I stopped at a produce shop,
realized that I wasn't sure of the name of the business I was looking
for, explained my dilema and asked for the "yellow pages." The nice
teenager behind the counter directed me down that aisle and to the left.
I figured I'd find a pay phone there, but after a bit of looking
around realized that I was staring at "yellow peaches."


--Lia

Nancy2 wrote:


> I've noticed this for a long time - just watch the checkers at the
> supermarket. "What's this?" And then a couple of them will argue
> about what kind of chilies those are or what kind of tomato. It
> should be required knowledge if they're going to be running a
> register.

The cashiers where I shop usually do a pretty good job. The one that
gets them the most is ginger root, possibly because I usually buy
pieces at a time so that it stay fresher. Snow peas can be a problem,
although they usually just ask if their snow peas or snap peas.

Of course, most of the produce has product codes on it.




Brian

--
If televison's a babysitter, the Internet is a drunk librarian who
won't shut up.
-- Dorothy Gambrell (http://catandgirl.com)

Ward Abbott wrote:

>
> Get a younun' checking you out at the grocery and they don't know
> their butts from a turnip....and have to ask you what it is.....


If they were interested in the topic, they'd KNOW. The same kid that
can't tell lettuce from cabbage could probably identify each IPod model,
(or sports car or video game console, you get the picture) tell you what
it cost, and what year it was introduced.

They're not stupid, they're just...SELECTIVELY INVOLVED.

gloria p

Puester wrote:

> If they were interested in the topic, they'd KNOW. The same kid that
> can't tell lettuce from cabbage could probably identify each IPod model,
> (or sports car or video game console, you get the picture) tell you what
> it cost, and what year it was introduced.
>
> They're not stupid, they're just...SELECTIVELY INVOLVED.
>
> gloria p
>
I like the postive tilt to this reply. I also give them a pass on some
fruits and produce as we have things available now that never were years
ago. Some are new to me. I've never seen a durian, for example. Would I
know one from a spaghetti squash....?

Charlene Charette wrote:
> On "The Biggest Loser" (yeah, I know...) this week, the two trainers
> visited high schools to educate students in healthy eating and
> exercise. They showed produce to students and asked them to
> identify it. I'm sure they edited out anyone who knew the correct
> answers, but they still found plenty of students who had no idea what
> the eggplant was. One student thought the asparagus was radishes.
> Now, I don't care for eggplant, but I can identify it.
>
> --Charlene
>
Forget the TV show or the students, how about the checkers at the grocery
store? Can't tell you how many times I've had one ask me "what is this?"
and I'm not just talking about teens. Apparently there are a lot of people
who have never made a trip to the produce aisle in their lives. Even if I
don't like it or buy it, I look at stuff. Things I can't identify on sight
I read the label to find out what it is. Never know when you might need
some (or not)

Jill

Goomba38 wrote:
> Puester wrote:
>
>> If they were interested in the topic, they'd KNOW. The same kid that
>> can't tell lettuce from cabbage could probably identify each IPod
>> model, (or sports car or video game console, you get the picture)
>> tell you what it cost, and what year it was introduced.
>>
>> They're not stupid, they're just...SELECTIVELY INVOLVED.
>>
>> gloria p
>>
> I like the postive tilt to this reply. I also give them a pass on some
> fruits and produce as we have things available now that never were
> years ago. Some are new to me. I've never seen a durian, for example.
> Would I know one from a spaghetti squash....?

You could smell a durian a mile away so yeah, you'd know

Goomba38 wrote:
> Puester wrote:
>
>> If they were interested in the topic, they'd KNOW. The same kid that
>> can't tell lettuce from cabbage could probably identify each IPod
>> model, (or sports car or video game console, you get the picture) tell
>> you what it cost, and what year it was introduced.
>>
>> They're not stupid, they're just...SELECTIVELY INVOLVED.
>>
>> gloria p
>>
> I like the postive tilt to this reply. I also give them a pass on some
> fruits and produce as we have things available now that never were years
> ago. Some are new to me. I've never seen a durian, for example. Would I
> know one from a spaghetti squash....?


You would if you smelled it!

;-)
gloria p

Puester wrote:
> Goomba38 wrote:
>> Puester wrote:
>>
>>> If they were interested in the topic, they'd KNOW. The same kid
>>> that can't tell lettuce from cabbage could probably identify each
>>> IPod model, (or sports car or video game console, you get the
>>> picture) tell you what it cost, and what year it was introduced.
>>>
>>> They're not stupid, they're just...SELECTIVELY INVOLVED.
>>>
>>> gloria p
>>>
>> I like the postive tilt to this reply. I also give them a pass on
>> some fruits and produce as we have things available now that never
>> were years ago. Some are new to me. I've never seen a durian, for
>> example. Would I know one from a spaghetti squash....?
>
>
> You would if you smelled it!
>
> ;-)
> gloria p

LOL that's what I said, Gloria. You don't sneak up on a durien in market...
it sneaks up on you! What ever tempted anyone to eat them is beyond me. I
suppose we learned a lot about what was edible by watching animals.
Personally I can't figure out how people knew they could eat oysters or
clams but for the fact that seabirds and other creatures were banging them
against rocks to break them open and eating the insides. Must have been the
same sort of thing with durien, but *gawd* the stench!!!

Jill

"Charlene Charette" > wrote in message
.. .
> On "The Biggest Loser" (yeah, I know...) this week, the two trainers
> visited high schools to educate students in healthy eating and exercise.
> They showed produce to students and asked them to identify it. I'm sure
> they edited out anyone who knew the correct answers, but they still found
> plenty of students who had no idea what the eggplant was. One student
> thought the asparagus was radishes. Now, I don't care for eggplant, but I
> can identify it.
>
> --Charlene
>
> --
>

That's not too surprising, considering that one poll also found a
significant number of high school students who didn't know if New Jersey is
on the east coast or the west coast! (And I *assume* there were probably
some who didn't know it is on *either* coast.)

MaryL

"jmcquown" > wrote in message
...
> Charlene Charette wrote:
>> On "The Biggest Loser" (yeah, I know...) this week, the two trainers
>> visited high schools to educate students in healthy eating and
>> exercise. They showed produce to students and asked them to
>> identify it. I'm sure they edited out anyone who knew the correct
>> answers, but they still found plenty of students who had no idea what
>> the eggplant was. One student thought the asparagus was radishes.
>> Now, I don't care for eggplant, but I can identify it.
>>
>> --Charlene
>>
> Forget the TV show or the students, how about the checkers at the grocery
> store? Can't tell you how many times I've had one ask me "what is this?"
> and I'm not just talking about teens. Apparently there are a lot of
> people
> who have never made a trip to the produce aisle in their lives.
<snip>
> Jill
>
>
I had that happen the other day. It was bok choy, which doesn't seem to
hard to identify.

MaryL

jmcquown wrote:

You don't sneak up on a durien in market...
> it sneaks up on you! What ever tempted anyone to eat them is beyond me. I
> suppose we learned a lot about what was edible by watching animals.
> Personally I can't figure out how people knew they could eat oysters or
> clams but for the fact that seabirds and other creatures were banging them
> against rocks to break them open and eating the insides. Must have been the
> same sort of thing with durien, but *gawd* the stench!!!
>


If you are hungry enough, you'll try almost anything once.

gloria p

I'm often impressed. I'll bring some leafy thing in a bag and the
checker will not only know what it is but also know their code for it
>
> I've noticed this for a long time - just watch the checkers at the
> supermarket. "What's this?" And then a couple of them will argue
> about what kind of chilies those are or what kind of tomato. It should
> be required knowledge if they're going to be running a register.
>

jmcquown wrote:

> Forget the TV show or the students, how about the checkers at the grocery
> store? Can't tell you how many times I've had one ask me "what is this?"
> and I'm not just talking about teens. Apparently there are a lot of people
> who have never made a trip to the produce aisle in their lives.

Yes, I've run into that from regular cashiers (I give the teen clerks a
break) on things like squash -- they don't know their acorn from their
buttercup or butternut and seasonal things like pomegranates. More
interesting are the questions like "You' re willing to pay $1.98 for a
pomegranate???" to which my most recent response was "Would you even
blink if I paid the same amount for a large Coke and a bag of chips?"

Gabby

Gabby wrote:
> jmcquown wrote:
>
>> Forget the TV show or the students, how about the checkers at the
>> grocery store? Can't tell you how many times I've had one ask me
>> "what is this?" and I'm not just talking about teens. Apparently
>> there are a lot of people who have never made a trip to the produce
>> aisle in their lives.
>
> Yes, I've run into that from regular cashiers (I give the teen clerks
> a break) on things like squash -- they don't know their acorn from
> their buttercup or butternut and seasonal things like pomegranates.
> More interesting are the questions like "You' re willing to pay $1.98
> for a pomegranate???" to which my most recent response was "Would you
> even blink if I paid the same amount for a large Coke and a bag of
> chips?"
>
> Gabby

LOL That's funny! What business is it of theirs what you spend your money
on?

Jill

Gabby wrote:
More
> interesting are the questions like "You' re willing to pay $1.98 for a
> pomegranate???" to which my most recent response was "Would you even
> blink if I paid the same amount for a large Coke and a bag of chips?"
>
> Gabby
>
EXCELLENT response.

Puester wrote:
> jmcquown wrote:
>
>> Personally I can't figure out how people knew they could
>> eat oysters or clams but for the fact that seabirds and other
>> creatures were banging them against rocks to break them open and
>> eating the insides. Must have been the same sort of thing with
>> durien, but *gawd* the stench!!!
>>
>
>
> If you are hungry enough, you'll try almost anything once.
>
> gloria p

I suppose. And if you guess wrong, you're either dead or wish you were.

Jill

"Gabby" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> jmcquown wrote:
>
>> Forget the TV show or the students, how about the checkers at the grocery
>> store? Can't tell you how many times I've had one ask me "what is this?"
>> and I'm not just talking about teens. Apparently there are a lot of
>> people
>> who have never made a trip to the produce aisle in their lives.
>
> Yes, I've run into that from regular cashiers (I give the teen clerks a
> break) on things like squash -- they don't know their acorn from their
> buttercup or butternut and seasonal things like pomegranates. More
> interesting are the questions like "You' re willing to pay $1.98 for a
> pomegranate???" to which my most recent response was "Would you even
> blink if I paid the same amount for a large Coke and a bag of chips?"
>
> Gabby
>


LOL! I love it.

MaryL

"Sheldon" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>
> Nancy2 wrote:
>> Charlene Charette wrote:
>> > On "The Biggest Loser" (yeah, I know...) this week, the two trainers
>> > visited high schools to educate students in healthy eating and
>> > exercise.
>> > They showed produce to students and asked them to identify it. I'm
>> > sure they edited out anyone who knew the correct answers, but they
>> > still
>> > found plenty of students who had no idea what the eggplant was. One
>> > student thought the asparagus was radishes. Now, I don't care for
>> > eggplant, but I can identify it.
>> >
>> > --Charlene
>>
>> I've noticed this for a long time - just watch the checkers at the
>> supermarket. "What's this?" And then a couple of them will argue
>> about what kind of chilies those are or what kind of tomato. It should
>> be required knowledge if they're going to be running a register.
>>
>> Jamie Oliver did a "what is it" test in Italy (one of the recent
>> programs) with young grade-school aged kids - they got nearly
>> everything right. The same test in his home country with its horrible
>> school meals (that's what he said) produced hardly a single child who
>> could name any vegetable other than a carrot.
>
> I'm not going to say I find that hard to believe because no way do I
> believe that at all... you trying to convince me that average 6-7 year
> olds with normal brains can't identify veggies like corn, peas, green
> beans, potatoes, onions, celery, lettuce, cabbage, tomatoes, cukes,
> beets, broccolli, cauliflower, and many, many other common veggies...
> they may not know say which variety of potato but most kids will know
> it's a potato.
>
> And I don't know about your stupidmarket checkers but those I encounter
> pretty much know all the veggies, they may not have the numbers
> memorized but they do know which veggie it is... only occasionally one
> may not know things like parsnip, endive, fennel bulbs, the difference
> in parslsys, stuff like that, but they do know the vast majority.
> Perhaps yoose live like in Texas, Oklahoma, or Kentucky, where the only
> potatoes anyone knows is fries.
>
> Sheldon
>

At some supermarkets, the cashier training involves this:

"So, you know all the vegetables & fruits?"

"Yeah"

"OK"

In article >,
says...
> Because one would hope that they have been eating it all their lives.
> Man should not live on French fries alone!
>

LOL! Based on what they would eat, my kids could, at high school
graduation, identify carrots, cucumber, corn, and lettuce.

--
Peter Aitken
Visit my recipe and kitchen myths pages at www.pgacon.com/cooking.htm

"Peter A" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> says...
>> Because one would hope that they have been eating it all their lives.
>> Man should not live on French fries alone!
>>
>
> LOL! Based on what they would eat, my kids could, at high school
> graduation, identify carrots, cucumber, corn, and lettuce.
> Peter Aitken


Based on reactions from my son's friends when they eat here, a lot of kids
do NOT see much variety of vegetables & fruits on their plates at home. More
than training by the supermarkets, their lack of exposure at home is more
likely to be the reason they don't recognize these things. And, a lot of
stupid parents have the idea that you can't take kids to restaurants. So,
they get little or no exposure to new foods.

"jmcquown" > wrote in message
...
> Charlene Charette wrote:
>> On "The Biggest Loser" (yeah, I know...) this week, the two trainers
>> visited high schools to educate students in healthy eating and
>> exercise. They showed produce to students and asked them to
>> identify it. I'm sure they edited out anyone who knew the correct
>> answers, but they still found plenty of students who had no idea what
>> the eggplant was. One student thought the asparagus was radishes.
>> Now, I don't care for eggplant, but I can identify it.
>>
>> --Charlene
>>
> Forget the TV show or the students, how about the checkers at the grocery
> store? Can't tell you how many times I've had one ask me "what is this?"
> and I'm not just talking about teens. Apparently there are a lot of
> people
> who have never made a trip to the produce aisle in their lives. Even if I
> don't like it or buy it, I look at stuff. Things I can't identify on
> sight
> I read the label to find out what it is. Never know when you might need
> some (or not)
>
> Jill
>
>

It's a great way to save money, though. If I'm in a nasty mood and the
checker asks what the escarole is, I'll tell him/her that it's something
cheaper, like one of the lettuces. Once, a checker couldn't identify a
mango. I told her it was a Peruvian tomato. After she browsed her code list
for 20 seconds, I said "No wait - that's a mango".

Sheldon wrote:
> Nancy2 wrote:
> > Charlene Charette wrote:
> > > On "The Biggest Loser" (yeah, I know...) this week, the two trainers
> > > visited high schools to educate students in healthy eating and exercise.
> > > They showed produce to students and asked them to identify it. I'm
> > > sure they edited out anyone who knew the correct answers, but they still
> > > found plenty of students who had no idea what the eggplant was. One
> > > student thought the asparagus was radishes. Now, I don't care for
> > > eggplant, but I can identify it.
> > >
> > > --Charlene
> >
> > I've noticed this for a long time - just watch the checkers at the
> > supermarket. "What's this?" And then a couple of them will argue
> > about what kind of chilies those are or what kind of tomato. It should
> > be required knowledge if they're going to be running a register.
> >
> > Jamie Oliver did a "what is it" test in Italy (one of the recent
> > programs) with young grade-school aged kids - they got nearly
> > everything right. The same test in his home country with its horrible
> > school meals (that's what he said) produced hardly a single child who
> > could name any vegetable other than a carrot.
>
> I'm not going to say I find that hard to believe because no way do I
> believe that at all... you trying to convince me that average 6-7 year
> olds with normal brains can't identify veggies like corn, peas, green
> beans, potatoes, onions, celery, lettuce, cabbage, tomatoes, cukes,
> beets, broccolli, cauliflower, and many, many other common veggies...
> they may not know say which variety of potato but most kids will know
> it's a potato.
>
> And I don't know about your stupidmarket checkers but those I encounter
> pretty much know all the veggies, they may not have the numbers
> memorized but they do know which veggie it is... only occasionally one
> may not know things like parsnip, endive, fennel bulbs, the difference
> in parslsys, stuff like that, but they do know the vast majority.
> Perhaps yoose live like in Texas, Oklahoma, or Kentucky, where the only
> potatoes anyone knows is fries.
>
> Sheldon

Perhaps you could quit being so insulting and argumentative. This is my
experience. Do you want to argue about what I observe? The kids and
cashiers aren't stupid; they just haven't been exposed to raw produce
at home, or they have had no interest in what goes on in the kitchen.

There are millions of kids who don't know squat about what raw produce
looks like. They have grown up as latch-key kids; their moms (or dads)
don't cook; their families don't garden; they don't share kitchen
duties; they eat fast food as their regular fare; their cooking skill
is limited to making KDs from the blue box. Watching Jamie Oliver do
the test in the elementary schools in the UK demonstrated that the U.S.
isn't the only place where this is a fact.

N.

"Nancy2" > wrote in message
ups.com...

>
> Perhaps you could quit being so insulting and argumentative. This is my
> experience. Do you want to argue about what I observe?


Sheldon believes that training is identical from one supermarket chain to
the next. Sheldon can't be wrong.

"Nancy2" > wrote in
ups.com:

>
> Sheldon wrote:

>
> Perhaps you could quit being so insulting and argumentative.


You're talking to 'Sheldon', remember???!!



--
Peter Lucas
Brisbane
Australia

'Enjoy today, it was paid for by a veteran'

http://www.beccycole.com/albums/vide...ter_girl.shtml

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
> "Nancy2" > wrote in message
> ups.com...
>
> >
> > Perhaps you could quit being so insulting and argumentative. This is my
> > experience. Do you want to argue about what I observe?
>
>
> Sheldon believes that training is identical from one supermarket chain to
> the next. Sheldon can't be wrong.

Oops, forgot that "Sheldon's Law." LOL.

N.

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
> "Nancy2" > wrote in message
> ups.com...
>
> >
> > Perhaps you could quit being so insulting and argumentative. This is my
> > experience. Do you want to argue about what I observe?
>
>
> Sheldon believes that training is identical from one supermarket chain to
> the next. Sheldon can't be wrong.

Oh, yeah, I forgot that part. LOL.

N.

Nancy2 wrote:
> Charlene Charette wrote:
> > On "The Biggest Loser" (yeah, I know...) this week, the two trainers
> > visited high schools to educate students in healthy eating and exercise.
> > They showed produce to students and asked them to identify it. I'm
> > sure they edited out anyone who knew the correct answers, but they still
> > found plenty of students who had no idea what the eggplant was. One
> > student thought the asparagus was radishes. Now, I don't care for
> > eggplant, but I can identify it.
> >
> > --Charlene
>
> I've noticed this for a long time - just watch the checkers at the
> supermarket. "What's this?" And then a couple of them will argue
> about what kind of chilies those are or what kind of tomato. It should
> be required knowledge if they're going to be running a register.
>
> Jamie Oliver did a "what is it" test in Italy (one of the recent
> programs) with young grade-school aged kids - they got nearly
> everything right. The same test in his home country with its horrible
> school meals (that's what he said) produced hardly a single child who
> could name any vegetable other than a carrot.
>
> N.

It really is pathetic, isn't it.

I often have my daughter's friends over for dinner. I keep it simple
but it's always meat-free and always involves at least one veggie,
often a salad and some fruit. Some of her friends do fine, they pretty
much eat anything. A few of them won't touch the veggies. Now I"m
not talking anything exotic; I know better! I'm talking about baby
carrots with ranch dressing???? A simple salad with basic ingredients
and nothing scary looking. They'll munch down on the white garlic
bread though....and the white spaghetti or pizza ( sometimes use real
mozzarella instead of soy :-) What's funny is that when I use soy
mozzarella, not one kid has ever noticed. I also use soy parmesan all
of the time and they seem to find no diffrence in that either.

But the veggies....I wonder how some of these kids can go to the
bathroom?????????

:-)

Especially since, where I shop, they have colored pictues of the products
next to the price chart at each register.

Maybe they can't read.

Oh pshaw, on Fri 08 Dec 2006 02:39:16p, Luey meant to say...

> I must be shopping at the wrong supermarket. They frequently can't
> identify the produce I buy. And I really don't buy anything weird.
> (One didn't know what a kiwi was.) If the store sells it, you'd think
> they'd at least have some idea what it was.
>
>
> Nancy2 wrote:
>> Charlene Charette wrote:
>> > On "The Biggest Loser" (yeah, I know...) this week, the two trainers
>> > visited high schools to educate students in healthy eating and
exercise.
>> > They showed produce to students and asked them to identify it. I'm
>> > sure they edited out anyone who knew the correct answers, but they
still
>> > found plenty of students who had no idea what the eggplant was. One
>> > student thought the asparagus was radishes. Now, I don't care for
>> > eggplant, but I can identify it.
>> >
>> > --Charlene
>>
>> I've noticed this for a long time - just watch the checkers at the
>> supermarket. "What's this?" And then a couple of them will argue
>> about what kind of chilies those are or what kind of tomato. It should
>> be required knowledge if they're going to be running a register.
>>
>> Jamie Oliver did a "what is it" test in Italy (one of the recent
>> programs) with young grade-school aged kids - they got nearly
>> everything right. The same test in his home country with its horrible
>> school meals (that's what he said) produced hardly a single child who
>> could name any vegetable other than a carrot.
>>
>> N.
>



--
Wayne Boatwright @¿@¬
_____________________

tofuqueen wrote:
They'll munch down on the white garlic
> bread though....and the white spaghetti or pizza ( sometimes use real
> mozzarella instead of soy :-) What's funny is that when I use soy
> mozzarella, not one kid has ever noticed. I also use soy parmesan all
> of the time and they seem to find no diffrence in that either.

Perhaps because the kids are used to institutional food such as they
make at schools and fast food places, and the cheese usually isn't all
that great in flavor either?

I must be shopping at the wrong supermarket. They frequently can't
identify the produce I buy. And I really don't buy anything weird.
(One didn't know what a kiwi was.) If the store sells it, you'd think
they'd at least have some idea what it was.


Nancy2 wrote:
> Charlene Charette wrote:
> > On "The Biggest Loser" (yeah, I know...) this week, the two trainers
> > visited high schools to educate students in healthy eating and exercise.
> > They showed produce to students and asked them to identify it. I'm
> > sure they edited out anyone who knew the correct answers, but they still
> > found plenty of students who had no idea what the eggplant was. One
> > student thought the asparagus was radishes. Now, I don't care for
> > eggplant, but I can identify it.
> >
> > --Charlene
>
> I've noticed this for a long time - just watch the checkers at the
> supermarket. "What's this?" And then a couple of them will argue
> about what kind of chilies those are or what kind of tomato. It should
> be required knowledge if they're going to be running a register.
>
> Jamie Oliver did a "what is it" test in Italy (one of the recent
> programs) with young grade-school aged kids - they got nearly
> everything right. The same test in his home country with its horrible
> school meals (that's what he said) produced hardly a single child who
> could name any vegetable other than a carrot.
>
> N.

"JoeSpareBedroom" > wrote in message
...
> "jmcquown" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Charlene Charette wrote:
>>> On "The Biggest Loser" (yeah, I know...) this week, the two trainers
>>> visited high schools to educate students in healthy eating and
>>> exercise. They showed produce to students and asked them to
>>> identify it. I'm sure they edited out anyone who knew the correct
>>> answers, but they still found plenty of students who had no idea what
>>> the eggplant was. One student thought the asparagus was radishes.
>>> Now, I don't care for eggplant, but I can identify it.
>>>
>>> --Charlene
>>>
>> Forget the TV show or the students, how about the checkers at the grocery
>> store? Can't tell you how many times I've had one ask me "what is this?"
>> and I'm not just talking about teens. Apparently there are a lot of
>> people
>> who have never made a trip to the produce aisle in their lives. Even if
>> I
>> don't like it or buy it, I look at stuff. Things I can't identify on
>> sight
>> I read the label to find out what it is. Never know when you might need
>> some (or not)
>>
>> Jill
>>
>>
>
> It's a great way to save money, though. If I'm in a nasty mood and the
> checker asks what the escarole is, I'll tell him/her that it's something
> cheaper, like one of the lettuces. Once, a checker couldn't identify a
> mango. I told her it was a Peruvian tomato. After she browsed her code
> list for 20 seconds, I said "No wait - that's a mango".
>

That's dishonest and unethical! You are amusing yourself by cheating the
store and possibly by trying to embarrass the checker. Cut them some slack!
I have also been appalled by the lack of knowledge of some checkers, but
some of them are newcomers who may have had absolutely no exposure in their
own homes to the produce you are buying.

MaryL

Sheldon wrote:
> And I don't know about your stupidmarket checkers but those I encounter
> pretty much know all the veggies, they may not have the numbers
> memorized but they do know which veggie it is... only occasionally one
> may not know things like parsnip, endive, fennel bulbs, the difference
> in parslsys, stuff like that, but they do know the vast majority.
> Perhaps yoose live like in Texas, Oklahoma, or Kentucky, where the only
> potatoes anyone knows is fries.
>
> Sheldon

You've just insulted over 28 million people.