Chadian 'Vampire' Dish Gets Blood Boiling ... or Frying

Boys as young as 13 held captive by African nation's army

(NEWSER) - The UN has obtained access to 80 child soldiers, some as young as 13, who have been taken prisoner in Chad near the Sudanese region of Darfur. UNICEF says that the children were captured and paraded before television cameras after a battle in early May between the Chadian army and a rebel group. According to the BBC, both sides in the ongoing Chad conflict are using child soldiers. More»

Open letter to prez candidates calls for overhaul—now

(NEWSER) - Americans touch it everyday and it’s a matter of national security, but John McCain and Barack Obama haven’t raised the issue while campaigning: America’s food system is in dire need of an overhaul, Michael Pollan writes in an open letter to the candidates in the New York Times. The system is critical to energy, health care, and environmental reform, he writes: “Food is about to demand your attention.” More»

Chefs, diners can't get enough of salty beef and pork salumi

(NEWSER) - Move over, fancy cheese, there's a new kid in town. Cured meat—salumi is the catchall term—is the latest foodie obsession, JJ Goode writes in Details. Salumi ranges from the familiar—think salami and prosciutto—to the more obscure like bresaola, cured beef made by artisans who "rub the lean hind legs of cows with salt and spices and age them in the Alpine breezes." More»

Pricier grain, energy make everything more expensive, from cereal to meat

(NEWSER) - Soaring grain and energy costs are driving food prices skyward, and big producers are moving to pass price hikes down the food chain to consumers on everything from cereal to meat, the Wall Street Journal reports. And costs won’t likely decrease, with biofuel demand eating up more corn than ever and livestock herds being thinned in response to the higher price of grain. More»

NYT provides advice on changing your diet

(NEWSER) - Curbing the meat craving can be a challenge in a culture that sees it as the main course—so Mark Bittman offers seven ways to ease the shift in the New York Times:

1. Don’t worry about protein. By varying your veggies, you can get the amino acids you need.
2. Buy less meat. The USDA calls 4 ounces per person a serving.
3. Don’t let it define the dish. Design your meal around what you think of as side dishes, like vegetables and grains.