Where do people go to eat healthy food and avoid cigarettes in Alabama?

[Reactionary]

Cracker Barrell doesn't allow smoking inside and food doesn't get much healthier (or better!) than turnip greens cooked with bacon. Like Emeril says, "pork fat rules"!

The venture you describe could be compared to the business model at KOA (Kampground of America).

[Threestep]

Tailgating in AL is not driving to somewhere to sit in your own motorhome, eat vegetarian and enjoy well water. Sorry!

[Threestep]

Originally Posted by Suliniber

Very good useful hints, Southlander, NicoleC . I will be off to check those locations suggested very soon and report back. mccarley - very good stats. Where did you get that from, interesting. Rickcheese- I agree to your point. The best comps would be per 100 people perhaps.
Yes my project is going to be in the North-west Alabama. Seems like this would be the area that needs it most. We need exposure to healthy living by creating choices and there are no choices in this area. I especially love the idea of picking ones own. My daughter and I went to a fruit orchard outside of Birmingham a few years ago and there was basket full of money left by people who picked what they needed and weighed it and paid the required amount into the basket. I was in the past thinking of a restaurant of that kind in Huntsville supplied by my organic produce, where there are no cashiers, just eat and pay into the basket. That is a high level of trust of human being and it forces people to take responsibility and be honest, building self respect.

Did you ever work in or run a restaurant?

[Socal2Bham]

[quote=mccarley;1910449]

Originally Posted by Suliniber

Anyway you cut it, there are a lot of fatso's in California.

It's those damn desert people!

Originally Posted by Reactionary

Cracker Barrell doesn't allow smoking inside and food doesn't get much healthier (or better!) than turnip greens cooked with bacon.

You're joking right? I don't consider Cracker Barrel to be synonymous with "health". I've been to a few and they still had smoking sections. Maybe they don't all have them though.

[Suliniber]

Originally Posted by jsherman9901

If I could change anything about this region, though, it would be to get rid of the "all you can eat" buffets because they encourage gluttony and obesity, and most of the time the food is second-rate.

I agree jsherman9901 about growing own food and fermers markets. I begining to explore my surrounding and I will be a good customer for those markets until I have my gardens ready and producing. Yes "all you can eat" must go if some Police State could order them out. Most peole who frequent "all you can eat" are obese already and it helps them sustain their wait without additional cost, other than health care expenses and premature death of course.

[Suliniber]

Originally Posted by Threestep

Did you ever work in or run a restaurant?

No I didn't, but I don't have to run it myself. I would employ good people. Well, if I get no money into the basket then its ok people have eaten, full happy and gone. Perhaps homeless peole would come and eat and go. I know that is not a practical business, I just am imargining a perfect world like heaven.

[Suliniber]

Originally Posted by Reactionary

The venture you describe could be compared to the business model at KOA (Kampground of America).

Let me look into the KOA. I might get some useful ideas from them. Thanks.

[bigtallredhead]

Originally Posted by Reactionary

Some research indicates that, for example, MS (or AL) has higher obesity rates due to higher black populations (whether or not the obesity rates actually apply to 'normal' black body types is another question):



MSU News: New health policy paper weighs in on obesity

That might be part of it, but Kentucky, west Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas etc.., also have above average obesity and are largely white, -low socioeconomic status is also a big part of it. But so is just the lifestyle, the diet, relative lack of exercise, etc... -Emil.

[NicoleC]

Actually, in San Francisco there is a honor system restaurant with no prices on the menu. You pay what you think the meal was worth, and if you can't pay, you work for half an hour busing tables or washing up or serving food to others. As wacky as it sounds, most people pay more than you'd pay elsewhere for a comparable meal.

[Reactionary]

bigtallredhead - I don't disagree with you... I posted what I thought was an interesting critique of the obesity ranking (basically that the definition was too restrictive).

Obesity Ranking / State (Black%)
1. Mississippi (36% - 1)
2. Alabama (26%)
3. West Virginia (3%)
4. Louisiana (33% - 2)
5. Kentucky (7%)
6. Tennessee (16%)
7. Arkansas (16%)
8 - tie. Indiana (8%)
8 - tie. South Carolina (30% - 3)
10. Texas (12%)