Pudgy passengers meant this paddlewheeler must to carry less of them.Handout
On the seas
Pudgy passengers are becoming a problem on a Florida paddlewheeler. Recently, Island Time was certified to carry only 134 cruisers, 19 fewer than the U.S. Coast Guard permitted when the vessel started service in the early 1990s. The reason: Americans are getting fatter. It will begin cruising off Key Largo, Fla., on New Year's Eve. It previously sailed out of Atlantic City as the Crystal Queen. In 2004 the Centers for Disease Control found the average adult male weighs 191 pounds, up from 166 pounds in 1960. Women's poundage went to 164 from 140.
At the table
Kids' menus are going healthy at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. By March 30 fattening choices like chicken nuggets and pizza will give way to such nutritious items as organic chicken strips or Loch Duart salmon with glazed vegetables. Individual chefs will plan their own offerings reflecting local ingredients. Children's Lifestyle Cuisine items will be prepared using healthy cooking methods, include fruit and vegetables and whole wheat instead of refined flour. Children can also order off the adult menu for 50-per-cent off.
At the bar
In San Francisco, a company called Brewtruc turned a school bus into a mobile bar. Across the U.S., Brazilian rum maker Leblon Cachaca is building brand recognition by dishing up cocktail-flavoured sorbet from food trucks. Now consulting agency Andrew Freeman & Co. is listing cocktail trucks as one of the year's hottest restaurant and hospitality trends. Canada's liquor laws, however, may prevent the fad from spreading north.
Sources: Miami Herald, Fairmont, Andrew Freeman
Special to The Globe and Mail