Anatomy of a Healthy Meal
It was lunchtime and I was in the middle of a 4-hour road trip. I knew I could pull off of any major freeway exit and find the regular options: McDonald’s, Wendy’s, or a gas station Subway. I decided I was craving some local flavor, something homegrown and healthy. What I really wanted was a big juicy hamburger.
My search began a few miles off the main drag and caught a glimpse of a small town burger joint. I’d been hiking for 10 hours in a Zion National Park slot canyon the day before - and the 4 days before that too - so watching calories was the least of my concern. But I decided to order the chicken tenders instead. Chicken is always the healthier choice, after all, right?
I thought there was a mistake when my order was called. In the basket was a heaping pile of poop-brown matter. The chicken tenders were fried to a crisp and piled on top of orange-brown crusted waffle fries. Covering the pile of crunchy stuff was an enormous brown scone. It must have been 8 inches in diameter. In my cup was brown Dr. Pepper (gulp).
There was no question in my mind that the monochromatic color scheme on my plate did not equal a healthy meal, chicken or not. The thought occurred to me to ask for my money back, to leave this joint and run to the closest McDonald’s and order a Salad Shaker (do they still make those?). At least I would be assured of meeting at least one of the six dietary guidelines of the USDA’s My Pyramid: Variety.
“So this is how most American’s eat, huh?” I asked myself. I could put my food snobbery aside and take a few bites. I added some reds to my brown color palette. Those greasy chicken tenders, dowsed in BBQ sauce, were quite satiating. And the fries, covered in bright red ketchup, weren’t half bad. I couldn’t bring myself to taste the scone. No need to overdo it here.
A few bites were enough for me. Looking at the enormous heap of brown somehow stifled my appetite. I pushed the basket aside and walked dejectedly back to the car. I think I had a banana in there somewhere, and a jar of Nutella. I never said no brown was allowed, after all!
TECHNO CHICKEN Warning. Watch this and you might never eat chicken again!!
My search began a few miles off the main drag and caught a glimpse of a small town burger joint. I’d been hiking for 10 hours in a Zion National Park slot canyon the day before - and the 4 days before that too - so watching calories was the least of my concern. But I decided to order the chicken tenders instead. Chicken is always the healthier choice, after all, right?
I thought there was a mistake when my order was called. In the basket was a heaping pile of poop-brown matter. The chicken tenders were fried to a crisp and piled on top of orange-brown crusted waffle fries. Covering the pile of crunchy stuff was an enormous brown scone. It must have been 8 inches in diameter. In my cup was brown Dr. Pepper (gulp).
There was no question in my mind that the monochromatic color scheme on my plate did not equal a healthy meal, chicken or not. The thought occurred to me to ask for my money back, to leave this joint and run to the closest McDonald’s and order a Salad Shaker (do they still make those?). At least I would be assured of meeting at least one of the six dietary guidelines of the USDA’s My Pyramid: Variety.
“So this is how most American’s eat, huh?” I asked myself. I could put my food snobbery aside and take a few bites. I added some reds to my brown color palette. Those greasy chicken tenders, dowsed in BBQ sauce, were quite satiating. And the fries, covered in bright red ketchup, weren’t half bad. I couldn’t bring myself to taste the scone. No need to overdo it here.
A few bites were enough for me. Looking at the enormous heap of brown somehow stifled my appetite. I pushed the basket aside and walked dejectedly back to the car. I think I had a banana in there somewhere, and a jar of Nutella. I never said no brown was allowed, after all!
TECHNO CHICKEN Warning. Watch this and you might never eat chicken again!!
Labels: Fitness and Nutrition
posted by MW at
2:21 PM
