Public Health Un-Treat of the Day

February is American Heart Month, and I thought it would only be appropriate to draw attention to a recent court battle between two heart attack themed restaurants.

At The Heart Attack Grill in Chandler, Arizona, patrons can order the Quadruple Bypass Burger, which packs around 8,000 calories!! The restaurant’s motto is “taste worth dying for”. And patrons who weigh over 350 pounds eat for free. Heart Attack Grill is suing Heart Stoppers Sports Grills in Delay Beach, Florida for using “similar products and tactics”.

Public Health Treat of the Day

I just observed a public health breakthrough. While I was shopping at the super market, I saw a young boy who was about four years old getting pushed around in a shopping cart. While in the "processed food" section, he turns to his mother to say "Mommy, no more food. It's too much for our family!" What a precocious (and heart-healthy) kiddo!

Scottish Treat of the Day

Last night, I attended a Scottish dinner party in honor of revered poet Robert Burns. It was my first time at a "Burns Supper". The menu included cockaleekie soup, haggis, oatcakes, scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, and cranachan for dessert. It was my first time eating haggis, and I think if I closed my eyes and didn't know that it was mainly lamb heart, lamb liver, pork, and pork fat, I might have enjoyed eating it a bit more. I think we all agreed (even the hosts) that the haggis was terrible. Fortunately, the cockaleekie soup was delicious. And the conversation and laughter flowed throughout the night.

By the end of the night, I think the real reason it's called a "Burns" dinner is how one feels when the whiskey goes down. It tastes like burning!

Yummy Treat

Last week, our organization had a very belated holiday party. It was hosted on-site and consisted of a 3-course homemade vegan Thai dinner. The food was AMAZING. I had never had homemade tofu before. It was de-licious. It was also a nice opportunity for me to meet the families of some of my co-workers. Here is a photo of friend/co-worker Sandra and I enjoying the festivities.

Treat of the Week

Today I finished my second project! Over the last several weeks, I have led, conducted, and generated themes from a series of key informant interviews with public health advocates and county health officials throughout New York State (my beloved home). The focus of the interviews was on understanding the process (i.e., the "how") of policy change for healthy eating and active living in communities that are largely Rural or suburban. It was really fascinating to learn about the strategies used throughout New York to achieve policy success in trail development, complete streets, school food service bids, menu labeling, and other topics. This work is part of a larger consultation effort to create healthy communities throughout New York, and I am really glad I get to contribute to it.

Sugary Treat of the Day

Have you ever seen a donut the size of your head? I have! At Bob's Donut and Pastry Shop.
After a night on the town with some friends, we made our way to what I call a "palace of pastry". Best. donut. ever.

Provocative Treat

Riding on a bus over the Golden Gate Bridge for the first time was very meaningful for me. Obviously, this bridge is a cultural icon for the Bay Area. But, this landmark is also largely associated with suicide. Back in grad school, one of the most stimulating classes I completed was the Epi. of Suicide. I thought the challenges related to measuring suicidal ideation and attempts were important and interesting to study, as were the strategies for designing population-based interventions that largely focus on restricting access to means (e.g., guns in the U.S., pesticides in India). I also vividly remember reading an interesting piece in The New Yorker that explored the issue of jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. What was most striking for me was what one survivor who had jumped from the bridge later said “I instantly realized that everything in my life that I’d thought was unfixable was totally fixable—except for having just jumped.” I couldn't help but think of that quotation when we were traversing the bridge. Suicide is a very important public health issue, and I only wish there could be more evidence-based preventive interventions, in addition to the crisis/hot-line programs.

Treat of Two Weekends Ago

I'm sorry that my blog posts are not as regular as...well...you know.... (gotta love fiber!)

Anyway, the weekend before last, although rainy, was full of fun and adventure. I'd say the highlight of the weekend was having two of my good friends from high school stay with me while they were interviewing for medical residencies at hospitals in the Bay Area. On one of the nights they were with me, we attended the 75th anniversary event of the SF Museum of Modern Arts. What a classy event! I felt like I was at a real grownup party! That weekend, I also saw my first albino crocodile at the Academy of Science. Grownup parties AND crocodiles -- this is the life!

Treat of the Day

At a recent all-staff Vegetarian lunch, I stepped in as a "pinch-hitter" sous chef. Here I am deeply concentrating on the avocados I am chopping. Good thing I let everyone know that I like plaid the day before. You'll also notice that I am trying to avoid the temptation of biting the strawberry.

Treat of the Day

Yesterday was the first all-staff meeting that I attended. Naturally, I was able to give a formal introduction to the staff to share my background, work experience, and interests. We also participated in a little activity to break the ice. We all had to describe our focus areas and say our favorite color. Some popular colors were: red, blue, green, black, and even gold. When it was my turn to say my favorite color, of course I said plaid. I was wearing the most egregious plaid shirt that day, so I couldn't resist. Hearty laughter ensued.

Editor's note: My favorite color is actually a tie between green and brown.

Controversial Treat of the Day

Note to self: do not bring Coca Cola products to work when your organization focuses on healthy nutrition policy and environmental change. I might as well light up a cigarette. Fortunately, nobody is overtly judging me. The nice outcome, though, is that me bringing in Coca Cola (a manly black label Coke zero) led to a meaningful conversation with my managing director regarding corporate responsibility - an issue very important to public health.

And, for what it's worth, I used to never drink Coca Cola (I was more of a Pepsi guy) until I moved to Atlanta. I literally drank the koolaid when I visited the World of Coca Cola.

Un-Treat of the Day

Atlanta has its package stores, and San Francisco has its liquor stores. I'm amazed at how many liquor stores there are near my apartment. I think it's safe to say that there is no shortage of places to buy booze here.

Well, the newest alcohol retailer to emerge on the market may be a popular chain drug store. Walgreen's wants to start selling wine and beer in half of their San Francisco locations. If this move is approved, consumers could pickup a six pack while waiting to receive their H1N1 flu shot!

In all seriousness, I feel strongly that the city council should not increase alcohol outlet density. It seems ironic for a pharmacy/drug store that promotes health to sell alcohol. Talk about mixed messages! At least cigarettes are banned in pharmacies in S.F.

And now, I'll get off my cyber pulpit...

(Literary) Treat of the Day

Last week, our organizataion co-sponsored a book talk on The Spirit Level. UK Authors Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett presented their research on why less equal societies have lower levels of trust and worse overall health for a number of outcomes. I read their book the next day and highly recommend it.

Could be a Treat (depending on how you look at it)

As I was walking home from the BART today, I decided to deviate from my usual route. Halfway to my apartment, I noticed an unfamiliar sign that reads:

Coffee

Espresso

Sausage

Wash and Dry

Yes, it is your typical laundromat that also serves coffee and sausage! I think I now know what the C&C Music Factory meant when they sang their 1991 sensation "Things that make you go hmmm".

Treat of the Weekend (Sort of)

I saw the house that was supposed to the "Full House" house over the weekend. Too bad Kimmy Gibbler wasn't around...

Treat of the Day (Everday!)

Imagine a loft that is converted into office space, complete with high ceilings, beautiful wood floors, couches galore, dining tables, a library, a large functional kitchen, and a rooftop garden. This zen-like setting is where I am working for the next five months in the Bay Area. In addition, two of the managers bring their dogs to work every day, and one dog is a playful puppy.

On my second day of work, we all took a break at 2 pm to eat freshly baked pie and ice cream (with dairy free options !). We receive a shipment of fresh organic fruit from a local farm on Tuesdays. Every Friday, we have a shared vegetarian lunch that two staff members prepare on-site for the entire organization. And yesterday, we hosted a book talk that was open to the community on the topic of income inequality and health outcomes. Then, several of my co-workers and I went to a happy hour at a new wine bar around the block. It was great getting acquainted with them and being able to share my story.

Trust me, the setting is amazing, and I am very lucky to be here. And yes, I actually do real work!

Treat of the Day

San Francisco is a real gem when it comes to culinary offerings. Without question, the city is a foodie's delight. Yet, somehow, I end up going out for dinner with two friends from college at a half Irish/half Indian restaurant called Kennedy's that has an arcade. There's nothing like Bangers 'n mash, Chicken Tikka Masala, and air hockey!

Treat/Un-Treat of the Day

My first few days in San Francisco were exciting and adventurous. After moving into my new digs, I began to explore my new playground. There was mailing letters at the post office, enrolling in a local gym, shopping at a real farmer's market, catching up with old friends, getting a tour of the city, and much more.

I also took my first trip to the grocery store. Because my kitchen was empty, I had many groceries to purchase. So, I shopped and I shopped and I shopped and managed to accumulate five heavy bags of groceries. And after I paid, it was only then that I remembered that I took the bus to get there, for I don't have a car. I started to walk toward the bus stop when it started to rain. Growing impatient while getting wet, I flagged down the first cab I saw and hopped in.

When I got back to my apartment building, I exited the cab and put the bags down on the ground. Little did I know that a puddle had started to form there. Apparently, paper bags and puddles do not mix. There I stood, completely embarrassed, as I watched my groceries fall out of four of the five bags. The spice jars started rolling away from me, and I scurried to retrieve them.

Fortunately for me, three nice ladies saw what happened and came to my rescue by running into the corner store and getting me several plastic bags. They helped me re-pack and I was on my way.

Welcome to San Francisco!

Treat of the Day

Andy Samberg once said "I'm on a boat". Well, Andy Roni says "I'm on a plane." Whoever decided to put WiFi on a plane is brilliant.

It was bittersweet to board the plane today. Bitter because I knew it would be hard to say farewell to the life and friendships I've cultivated in Atlanta. Sweet because of the sugar I put in my coffee!

I was lucky that I had two friends/co-workers -- Brenda and Seetha -- drive me to the airport and help me schlep my overweight bags to the curbside check-in. I have to use words like 'schlep' because I know Seetha will be reading this post and she is currently a student of the Yiddish language. And by student, I mean that she is taking advantage of the Yiddish word of the day calendar I gave to her as a present that now sits on her desk. I'm glad Seetha is becoming one with the Jews, but I hope that our co-workers who sit near Seetha don't think her excitement and enthusiasm for Yiddish makes her a nudnik or even a meshugenah!

One of the especially nice things that Seetha did for me was decorate my door and office to say farewell and mazel tov. Photo appears above. It's uncanny how much the drawing of "Pandy Bear" looks like me. Except I'm a little concerned about the facial droop; apparently, my caricature makes me look like I could be having a stroke