National Ice Cream Day (Month) – Did You Eat Away?

Former President Ronald Reagan made many wonderful contributions to this country, one of them being his creation of National Ice Cream Day, which falls on July 17 this year.

In 1984, Reagan dubbed July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day. Calling ice cream the “perfect dessert and snack food,” the Gipper encouraged all Americans to observe the special day with “appropriate ceremonies and activities.” Though anti-obesity advocate first lady Michelle Obama might feel uneasy about National Ice Cream Day, we invite you to indulge a little this afternoon.

According to a proclamation (Proclamation 5219, to be exact)  if you are a patriot, you will go out and eat yourself a big helping of the cold stuff. In his official 1984 proclamation, Reagan declared:

Ice cream is a nutritious and wholesome food, enjoyed by over ninety percent of the people in the United States. It enjoys a reputation as the perfect dessert and snack food. Over eight hundred and eighty-seven million gallons of ice cream were consumed in the United States in 1983.The ice cream industry generates approximately $3.5 billion in annual sales and provides jobs for thousands of citizens. Indeed, nearly ten percent of all the milk produced by the United States dairy farmers is used to produce ice cream, thereby contributing substantially to the economic well-being of the Nation’s dairy industry.

So true. Other important facts about ice cream: more ice cream is sold on Sunday than any other day of the week. The most popular flavor of ice cream in the U.S is vanilla (27.8%), followed by chocolate (14.3%), strawberry (3.3%), chocolate chip (3.3%) and butter pecan (2.8%). The most ice cream (per person) is eaten by children aged 2-12 and adults 45+. The average number of licks to consume a single scoop cone is about 50. It is delicious.

In honor of the late president and the tasty treats that cool us down during humid summers, scroll through our slideshow of ice cream pictures (see stills below). If you plan on purchasing some ice cream later today, look at our selection of photos for ideas on what to order.

(And remember the Gipper’s love for Jelly Bellys…  )

h/t to  The Daily Caller and Gothamist

Michelle Obama’s campaign to raise awareness about rising obesity, especially in children, is a good program for the First Lady to tackle.  Encouraging our young people to get away from the electronics and get outside to play, participate in sports or just enjoy the outdoors is also a good idea. Legislating what we can eat and threatening to take kids away from their parents because they are overweight is appalling, un-American and certainly un-constitutional.

Bring on the education and awareness, but food police and usurping parental rights in not okay.

Perhaps improving the economy and providing jobs would be a better focus than punishing parents who are barely making ends meet and trying to feed their families?!?  And if people had more income, they could make better food choices and purchases.  How about getting the additives that make us all fat and make us want to eat more out of the food as well, stop the government from subsidizing fast food, and how about banning the GMO foods completely? Those would be a great addition to the campaign!  And that Mrs. Obama would really be a worthy cause!

In the meantime… a little fun, happiness and dessert helps our attitude.  Beside the decline in jobs, income and discretionary income Americans have had a lot to digest and deal with since 9.11 (10 years now) and comfort food is often what the doctor orders… unless you are on ObamaCare!

Learning to Make Gelato for New Theatre Project

Happy 2nd Birthday Sundae at Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlor  -  My Auntie was telling me how she spent her 16th B-Day at the Farrell’s on Van Nuys Blvd with 16 Friends and that when they delivered the two Zoo’s they dropped one on one of her guests.  Mad me smile!   

So if you missed National Ice Cream Day on the 17th… enjoy some today!  It has been a hot summer!!  And the key to healthy eating… is everything in moderation, even some good desserts!

Posted by Ask Marion  -  Photos by the UCLA Shutterbug 

Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal

Why Not To Eat at the Computer, While Reading, While Watching TV or While Distracted

Ever sit down at the computer with a family-size bag of chips, only to find it nearly empty by the time you log off? 

There's a scientific reason for it. Normally, if you eat the same food for a period of time, your palate gets "tired." You feel full sooner and don't want as much. This is known as sensory-specific satiety. But get distracted -- by reading the latest celebrity gossip, catching up on e-mail, or playing computer games -- and this appetite-control mechanism gets turned off. 

Your palate is primed for variety. Ever notice how there's always room for dessert, even when you're stuffed? The greater the variety of food, the more you're likely to eat. The opposite is also true: Take away variety and you feel fuller sooner. It's a trick you can use to your advantage. According to the RealAge Docs, you're less likely to overeat -- and more likely to lose weight -- if you eat the same thing for at least one of your meals, day in and day out. Aim for overall variety within a weeklong period, not with each meal. 

In a study, women who ate snack cakes while playing a video game wanted to eat more of the food -- not less -- compared to the women who ate without any distraction. The game players also had a greater desire to snack on other available munchies, and their desire to eat lingered after the study ended. 

So do your best not to watch TV, spend time on the computer, read, or otherwise distract yourself when eating. You'll be satisfied with less and feel fuller sooner. And focusing on eating might help prolong the time between meals.

Source:  RealAge