New Year Post

It's already the 9th of the year and this is only my first post. Haven't been writing much. Hmm. Been drinking a lot of wine but not much to write I suppose. Plus I have been busy. Planning a party for 40 people that will go off in about 10 days, working almost nonstop, writing for our newsletter when I do have any time off, and sticking to a sort-of new year's resolution to run at least 3 miles a day 5 days a week...

Also, our running group website manager asked me to write something about nutrition for the running club newsletter, which sounds good, but I need to get that rolling as well.

There's an idea. I could get that rolling here.

I want to start that article by saying that yesterday I heard on the radio that they did yet another study on this subject and found that the people who drink moderately and exercise are the least likely to suffer from coronary heart disease, that is, less likely than those who drink moderately and don't exercise, and those who exercise but don't drink, and definitely less likely than those who neither exercise nor drink moderately.

Having been a dietitian/nutritionist for 12 years prior to my recent stint as a wine buyer and seller, I always chuckle when they release yet another study on something that has already pretty much been proven again and again, and pretty much sounded like common sense in the first place.

Like when I heard about a month ago that they did a study, and people on the Atkins diet, even though they might have lost weight on it, are more likely to die from heart disease than those not on the Atkins diet. Say it isn't so! Don't tell me now that eating bacon and eggs for breakfast, steak and mayo for lunch, and meat and salad for dinner is bad for you!!!! But I asked for no bun on my burger!!!!!

People often have no common sense when it comes to food. Or lifestyle. That's why I left that frustrating and often depressing life for a life in wine. The fun life.

At any rate, if I were to advise people today on how to life a healthy life, I would keep it simple. No calorie counting, no fat gram counting - none of that really counts. Look in the mirror and ask yourself: does it make sense that I can drink 5 cans of energy drinks per day and stay healthy? (My contractor was doing this and was recently told by his doctor: "No more energy drinks for you!" Shocking, I know.) Ask yourself, is it healthy for me to drink a whole bottle of wine every day? (hint: that's probably a little more than moderate). Ask yourself, should I be exercising more? (hint: probably - we are a sedentary lot in this country, or at least in the part I live where we have our cars on a leash. Look at places like Paris, etc, NYC maybe even. People have to walk their asses off everywhere they go.) Should I stop eating so much fast food? Um, yes! Should I start cooking myself more often, incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables? Um, yes! Should I pack myself a lunch and resist the temptation of the taco truck/burger and fries/chips etc.? Yes!
So that's all I have to say about nutrition.

Let's get back to partying. Next week, party. We're serving oysters and some other great appetizers. It's a celebration so we're going to have say 10 bottles of Agrapart 7 Cru Blanc de Blanc (non-vintage). Good stuff. Maybe not as ethereal as the vintage Mineral which I have described in earlier posts, but the non-vintage 7 Cru will do just fine in this party situation. Just fine!

For reds, I have already picked up 2005 La Cabotte Cotes du Rhone and 2004 Zenato Valpolicella. These are two great wines about $10 a piece, a steal really. Great party wines, and if there are any left over, I'll be happy to drink them any time of the week.

For white wines, I will probably pick up a few bottles of Sancerre, though I haven't decided which one. Stay tuned!