Food FYI: Vegetarian McDonald’s to open in India

McVEGETARIAN

Burger purveyor McDonald’s plans to open its first non-meat restaurant in the Sikh holy city of Amritsar, India, next year. Located near Amritsar’s Golden Temple, the branch will serve vegetarian options tailored to the country’s cultural tastes, says AFP. Much of India’s population avoids certain types of meat. Hindus consider cows sacred and don’t eat beef, while Muslims don’t eat pork. The company’s bestseller in India is the McAloo Tikki burger, which features a fried potato patty and makes up a quarter of sales. [Los Angeles Times]

ICE CREAM NACHOS

Baskin-Robbins has introduced a new product called Waffle Chip Dippers, with the tagline “Think Nachos, Only Cooler.” The waffle-cone pieces, along with brownie chips, are served with soft-serve vanilla ice cream to dip into, topped with M&M;’s and chunks of Snickers pieces. It costs $2.99 at participating stores. [Zagat]

AFRICA’S URBAN FARMS

As many as 40% of families in sub-Saharan African are urban farmers, growing fruits and vegetables for themselves and millions of others. But a Food and Agriculture Organization survey, which looked at city farming in 31 countries, concludes that these farms are in jeopardy as housing and industry displace the land that provides one of their best sources of food. [NPR]

HUNGRY KIDS

A USDA report says 10% of U.S. households couldn’t provide their children with “adequate, nutritious” food at times in 2011. That’s more than 16.6 million children — or 22% of all American kids. [Washington Post]

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