Even though corn is now selling for less than half of its June price, the Thanksgiving turkey that feeds on that corn costs 8% more per pound. The wheat baked into the dinner rolls is down 60%, but the rolls are up 16%. And the soybeans in all those holiday pie crusts? Down 47% since summer, but cost is 9% more, the CBS study found.
Experts say it’s because grocery pricing is about more than just commodities.
“Raw commodity costs represent about 20% of the total food bill at the grocery store. …

(ARA) – While the days of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches may be a distant childhood memory, the “brown bag” lunch is once again becoming a popular fixture on the office desk.  With recent economic factors influencing food purchases, America is looking to the brown bag to save a few bucks. According to a new study from the market research firm NPD Group, weekday packed lunches among adults reached a new high in 2007, and this trend is expected to continue.
But “bagging it” doesn’t have to mean a boring turkey …

(ARA) – With the holiday food-fest soon over, you may be looking for ways to get back on track with your weight. You might be tempted to skip breakfast as a way to save calories, but this plan usually backfires. Bypass breakfast and you’ll end up being ravenous and unable to make smart eating decisions at lunch.
“Skipping breakfast only delays hunger, and often leads to overeating later in the day,” explains Bob Greene, an exercise physiologist, personal trainer to Oprah Winfrey and author of ‘The Best Life Diet Cookbook.” “But …

As recession takes hold, look for comfort foods, less complicated cooking and a few sprightly innovations
So what are some foods, flavors and culinary trends we’ll see in 2009? Here are several, gleaned from a variety of trend reports:
• Breakfast: If you like eggs at any hour, you’re in luck. Look for more restaurants with all-day breakfast items. Fried or poached eggs on top of dishes (the classic French frisée salad, for example) also will be more popular.
• Asian noodles and soups: With raw-fish prices increasing, noodle bars are becoming the …

Gas prices in the Tampa Bay area are down a stunning 60 percent over the past five months.
So where’s the trickle down?
As gas prices peaked in the summer, the nearly $150 tab for a barrel of oil was the prime suspect in everything from spiking airfares and surging food costs to announcements of much higher electric bills in 2009.
As oil prices have receded, however, the impact has been decidedly muted. Airfares have ticked down only slightly, and most local electric bills will still climb steeply in January.
The most glaring disconnect …