Everything You Need to Know About Canola Oil

 Canola plants are a part of the Brassica family - the same family to which vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli belong. They grow up to six feet in length and produce bright yellow flowers. It is extracted by crushing the seeds of the canola plant after which the oil is refined and bottled for consumption purposes.

Healthy

Being an omega-3 oil with lower amounts of saturated fats, it is one of the healthy oils available today, and is an ideal cooking oil for kids.

Heart healthy Oil

Canola oil leverages high levels of two plant sterols - campesterol and beta sterol. Various studies have shown a direct link between high-concentration of sterols with reduced risk of heart diseases.

Lowers Bad Cholesterol (LDL)

The presence of plant sterol in canola oil reduces the bad cholesterol (LDL) level by around 10-15%. Further, it stimulates a healthy lipid profile by increasing the good cholesterol (HDL) level.

Reduces Inflammation

Consumption of pure canola oil is known to reduce joint tenderness, stiffness, and the inflammation arising due to bowel disorders and asthma.

Skin Problems

Being rich in Vitamin E and K, it is used in various skin lotions and creams to get rid of skin problems such as acne, blemishes, fine lines and wrinkles. Also, the presence of fatty acids in the oil makes it a good choice for treating conditions like alligator skin, eczema, etc.

Body Oil

Canola oil is rich in fatty acids, and mixing it with any essential oil can be highly effective in moisturizing dry and flaky skin.

Canola Oil Characteristics

• Light texture 

• Non-viscous 

• Pale golden color 

• High tolerance to heat 

• Neutral taste

Due to its high heat tolerance property, canola oil serves as a perfect oil for baking, stir-frying and deep-frying purposes. It can be used for both salad dressing as well as sauteing as a replacement for groundnut, sunflower or olive oil. The high ratio of unsaturated fatty acids to fatty acids make it a healthy oil. Besides, it also serves as a great source of energy supplying around 884 Kcal of energy for every 100 grams.

The Real Movable Feasts

 From the basic chuck wagon fare of stews, beans and biscuits, we have come a long way and expect far more than the old cellophane wrapped sandwich of the 50s and 60s, along with stale coffee. Ethnic cuisines and made to order hot foods are now commonplace for harried on-the-run office workers, and we're wiling to pay top dollar for the convenience.

In the 50s, mobile canteens serviced U.S. Army troops on bases and maneuvers, but they were little more than regulation chow. Americans have come to expect far more and creative vendors gladly answer the call. From early ice cream trucks to the hot dog vendors with their Vienna Beef umbrellas, thousands tumble out of offices, factories and stores, headed to that truck down the street where they know what they'll find and don't mind standing in line for it. Who needs stale vending machine foods or fast food burgers when we can get fresh falafel packed into pita bread, a plate of nachos or an authentic fish and chips wrapped in newsprint. What has evolved from the "roach coach" of the past to a venue that launched the career of many executive chefs, food trucks now even cater at special events, college campuses,conferences and weddings.

Let's examine the most popular and latest offerings from these meals-on-wheels across the country. Most of these truck operators also have restaurants multiple locations, and many are culinary school graduate and chefs:

The Grilled Cheeserie - from basic to designer grilled cheese sandwiches, Nashville

The Taco Truck - a variety of tacos and toppings, as well as burritos, Hoboken, NJ

Fukuburger Truck - the actual last name of its Japanese owner, burgers feature unusual Asian toppings and sauces, Las Vegas

Mac Mart Truck - takes mac and cheese to a new level with creative ingredients, Philadelphia

Luke's Lobster - lobster, crab and shrimp rolls for about $17 (clearly not for those on a budget) New York City

The Cow and Curd - cheese curds, batter dipped and deep fried, with dipping sauces, Philadelphia

Kogi BBQ - creative and diverse Korean cuisine, Los Angeles

Ms. Cheezious - more designer grilled cheese sandwiches, one of America's favorite comfort foods, Miami

Cinnamon Snail - vegan food for the more health-conscious and non meat-eating crowd, with not a snail in sight (go figure) NYC

Oink and Moo BBQ - award-winning pork and beef BBQ with all the trimmings, NJ

If you venture into ethnic neighborhoods, such as a big city Chinatown, obviously you'll find a preponderance of their native cuisines dotting the streets, but overall these are the most common menu items across the country:

Barbecue 

Hamburgers 

Hot dogs 

Coffee and coffee drinks 

Smoothies / healthy drinks and juices 

"Grown-up" grilled cheese sandwiches 

Sliders 

Cupcakes and desserts 

Street tacos and burritos 

Sushi 

Lobster rolls 

Mediterranean menus / Gyros 

Crepes with special toppings 

Vietnamese Banh Mi sandwiches 

Pizza 

Ice cream and soft serve 

Shaved ice / Italian ice 

Indian food 

Hawaiian food 

Chicken wings

In the US, food trucks are a $1.2 billion industry. Despite the obvious challenges such as lack of hot running water, strict regulations, licenses and health laws, food trucks serve an important role in our society and provide a vital service to thousands of workers everywhere. Although chuck wagons may simply be nostalgia, the concept lives on. Food trucks. When you just can't wait to eat.