Frogurt. Frusen Glaadje. Ice Milk.
Those were the days. Anyone old enough to remember the introduction of low-fat ice cream alternatives and their gourmet high-fat counterparts, which came out at roughly the same time, can now appreciatively marvel at the wide range of choices in the ice cream aisle, where shoppers can pick a fancy, overpriced, hand-packed pint, or a tub of the cheap stuff, a full gallon, for roughly the same price.
Since I am obsessed with the food I eat, I opt for those low-fat healthy ice creams, like Healthy Choice, which boldly announces its intentions right in its brand name. Healthy? Sure, but tasty too, although friends who eat Baskin Robbins have an easier time making the segue via something mid-range, like Edy's Light.
But, either way, it's healthy. Well, that's what I always thought. Unfortunately, all that skimping and starving may not really be worth it after all. More and more, we've been seeing nutritionists separating different types of fats. The blanket catch all of no fats are good fats just doesn't work anymore.
Olive oil, almonds, avocados. All good fats. The bad stuff is the saturated fat, especially those trans fatty acids. Still, my Healthy Choice is Healthy, right?
Maybe. Maybe not. Look on the side nutritional panel of a carton of Healthy Choice, and you'll discover that, as promised, there are only two grams of fat per serving. Of course, a serving size determined by the portion control police at Healthy Choice and a portion size determined by me, on the couch, in front of the television, are two very different things, but that's another matter. What matters, is that, of those measly two grams of fat, half are saturated.
A friend's dad, who suffered a heart attack several years back, but is now fit, able, and careful about what he eats, says the government should not allow Healthy Choice to even use the word healthy in their product name.
And those other Lite ice creams? Edy's Grand Light has less fat than their regular product, but varies depending on flavor. For example, the Cookie Dough Light contains 3.5 grams of fat, but 2.5 of those are saturated fat grams. The French Silk Light? 4.5, 3 of which are saturated.
Compared to Ben and Jerry's regular Twisted, which mixes Chocolate Fudge Brownie and Cookie Dough, however, you're still doing great. A serving of that contains 15 grams of fat, 9 of which are saturated.
So, no, you don't have the license to jump in those pints of Haagen Dasz, but don't just assume that low fat equals good fat.
While on the subject of health and portion size, I was recently made aware of how other nations must view our eating habits, when I dined at Magianno's, where the food is always big. While I have dined there several times over the years, at least a full year had gone by since my last visit. As the platters of food began to arrive for our family-style feast, it became quickly apparent that the bread basket would need to be relegated to the counter along the wall, as we were running out of space. I felt a bit embarrassed that we had ordered so much food, but a friend told me to just look at what was going on at the surrounding tables.
I did, and I have to say I, a big eater who doesn't know when to stop, was a bit amazed at the amount of food squeezed onto every table. At least we had ordered half portions, and were sharing entrees that numbered less than the number of people at the table.
Just last night, we ate at the old-fashioned Italian standby, Bella Notte, on that strip of Grand east of Ashland, which houses Salerno's, Oggi's, and the relocated Cannella's, that constitutes a minor Little Italy.
Bella Notte works the same way as Magianno's, but the food is more authentic, and heartfelt. You can order half-sized portions, and choose to eat family style.
We three, with our half portions and no appetizers, felt like stick-thin rails, compared to the feeding frenzy going on around us.
Tonight, as we eat our leftovers (and there was plenty left over), I know I will marvel at the full-sized order of Chicken Marsala, which comes with four chicken breasts on a massive platter, and at the man who calmly ate every bite at the next table.
While the whole thing is a little sickening, I have to say, there is a part of me that is intrigued. I'd love to be able to put all that away. Let's face it; it's only four dollars more for the full-sized portion, which is twice as much. The cheapskate inside of me is getting ripped off.
Someday, when I'm really big (I know it's coming, no matter how careful I eat), I'm going to start hitting these restaurants. Oh! And all those all-you-can-eat buffets. Look out, because I'm finally going to get my money's worth.
