Eating in the USA

[valerieSONORA]

Originally Posted by derekwong28

Reading the original post again, I just realized that I eat out everyday. In fact, I can't remember the last time I ate 3 meals at home. I eat out for my breakfast, although it is a working breakfast where I do a lot of Internet work. I also eat out during lunch. For dinner I dine out 2 to 3 times per week. I also have regular snacks at KFC, Burger King or McDonald's after 9.00pm.

Right now the favorite place for breakfast is KFC, I find their surroundings very suitable for Interent work. We have got McDonalds, Burgerking, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, and Pacific Coffee in the same shopping center nearby.

What worries me is how far American fast food chains and their local clones have penetrated and dominated in almost every country around the world. This includes countries like France, Italy, and China where there is a lot of culinary chavanism. I visited a mall in Cebu, Phillipins recently and almost single food outlet is a junk food outlet although they are runned mainly by local people based on American chains. This seems to be exporting obesity around the world, and this is definitely affecting me!

Gasp!
Shame, shame!! NEVER eat at McDonalds. Don't you know just one of their "value meals" has all the fat and calories you need in 1 day Not to mention almost no nutrition. Even their grilled chicken salad with ranch dressing has more fat than a big mac. Their ranch dressing alone has over 30 grams of fat.

Yep, exporting obesity looks like a big business.

I notice I felt a lot better after stopping eating at all fast food places and eating something homemade and fresh instead.

Oh no myob was right they are trying to take over the world.

[Patrician]

Derek
Pat, I am taking medication for high blood pressure and high cholesterol and so salt is bad for me as well. But I just have not found enought self discipline yet. I took a course of Reductil for a few months and lost 6 lbs of weight. I am not sure whether I will continue with it.

In California we have MSG Free Chinese restaurants (a few). In fact the 'All You Can Eat' place I spoke of above is one. When they are, that is their main advertisement.

Derek, if you cut down on the beef you will see both a reduction in cholesterol and a weight loss. I know it is a tough one for most guys.

I eat beef maybe only one or two times per year and never pork. Yep once per year I have a Burger King Whopper Junior with Cheese - I have perfect cholesterol and BP -

When I was a complete vegetarian years ago, like the 70's, I found when I craved hamburgers it was the mustard and ketchup and all the garnishes that I missed.

So I learned how to make soy burgers and put all the good stuff on whole grain buns. (from real pressure cooked soy beans - now I just buy vegeburgers ('grillers') from Morning Star Farms as a regular staple).

Morning Star has wonderful meat-free breakfast 'sausages' and 'bacon' and they microwave in minutes!

I guess this is a good place to say I figured a great way to make tofu. I had bought some Fish Fry breading stuff - very rare because of the salt -

I bought some extra firm tofu and it is delicious just out of the box - but I thought I would try to do something different so I breaded it with the fish fry stuff and just saute' d lightly in olive oil. It is really good served as a side with a good salad dressed with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

I firmly believe that diet is the 'drug' of choice for any condition just as 'diet' is the cause of many diseases (or at least makes everything better or worse as the case may be).

p.s. I was just sick when my friend went to Europe and said Rome is full of McDonalds. Just as I am to learn about China.

Omigod. What a travesty. Mankind is truly degenerating at a much faster rate of speed than we are progressing otherwise I guess.

[Michael Motley]

I just can't bring myself to eat soy. Im a carnivore..i need meat.

[MissTerraK]

Originally Posted by Michael Motley

I disagree with that. The 'beautiful people' did not cause women to have food issues. Women cause women to have food issues. Nobody in hollywood is making suzy homemaker in iowa throw up her food after she eats in an effort to be rail thin. Thats all suzy.

Some say 'its the women's magazines'. Well who reads those? I can't remember the last time me and my male friends were reading cosmo.

Nobody is harder on women than women.

Hey! I read Cosmo, but it doesn't make me wanna puke or binge! It makes me want to shop, LOL! And it has great relationship tips in it too!

The biggest problem I have is when it comes in the mail, my hubbie reads it first, so I refuse to use any of those tips toward him and told him when he quits reading them first, then the new isssue tips I may use!

Sheesh, I don't devour his RaceCar mags he gets! He's a goofball sometimes!

MissTerraK

[valerieSONORA]

I didn't know men read cosmo lol

[myob]

I read Cosmo just to keep up with all of my wife's little tricks.
But sure glad she don't read my Muscle mag.

[Kurt]

Originally Posted by valerieSONORA

I didn't know men read cosmo lol

Actually, we just look at the pictures.

[Michael Motley]

We dont. Thats the point. Women cause women's issues. Women are pretty rough on each other when it comes to physical appearance.

You never hear guys busting on another guy about what shoes they are wearing, how their hair looks or if the jeans a guy is wearing makes his a$$ look fat.

I've heard plenty of guys, myself included say 'i like a woman with a little meat on her bones' or something similar. I've never heard a guy say 'i want a woman that i can count her ribs when she takes of her shirt.

Women dont get this point....guys really dont care what you look like all we care about is if there is the possibility we are going to get some sex. Now the rockstar supermodel guy you see in a bar may not take a fancy to you, but i guarantee there are guys that will think you're the greatest thing since sliced bread no matter what your physical appearance.

How many times have you ever seen a chubby girl, not so hot looking, but she's got a decent looking guy. She doesnt have to be rich, she doesnt have to be smart, she just has to be willing. There are guys that are dumpy, short, fat, bald that have hot wives/gfs, they also usually have a hell of a lot of money, thats why they have the hot gf.

Women think men put as much thought into how they percieve the opposite sex as women do...we dont. On a date, women want men who are funny, charming, nicely dressed, decent job, decent place to live, atleast a little money in his pocket. He needs to be interesting, well read, carry on a good conversation..etc..etc. But on the other side of that...men are happy if you show up naked and bring beer.

The point is women starve themselves and do all the stuff they do to themselves for the approval of other women...not of men. We dont care if you look like 'the beautiful people' in hollywood. I mean we appreciate the hair, nails, makeup, heels (especially the heels ) but in reality...we're sort of like a hooker, there's no need to romance us..we're a sure thing

[MissTerraK]

Originally Posted by Kurt

Actually, we just look at the pictures.

Nice try Kurt!

That may well be in your case, however, he tells me the tips he wants me to implement before I read them. They're in there, so I know the boy reads them!

And he probably looks at the pictures too, he's not blind, well, only at reading small fine print! I finally convinced him to go to the optomotrist's office, has appointment for 1st week in December!

MYOB, you know how stubborn I can be! LOL!
MissTerraK

[MissTerraK]

Originally Posted by Michael Motley

We dont. Thats the point. Women cause women's issues. Women are pretty rough on each other when it comes to physical appearance.

You never hear guys busting on another guy about what shoes they are wearing, how their hair looks or if the jeans a guy is wearing makes his a$$ look fat.

I've heard plenty of guys, myself included say 'i like a woman with a little meat on her bones' or something similar. I've never heard a guy say 'i want a woman that i can count her ribs when she takes of her shirt.

Women dont get this point....guys really dont care what you look like all we care about is if there is the possibility we are going to get some sex. Now the rockstar supermodel guy you see in a bar may not take a fancy to you, but i guarantee there are guys that will think you're the greatest thing since sliced bread no matter what your physical appearance.

How many times have you ever seen a chubby girl, not so hot looking, but she's got a decent looking guy. She doesnt have to be rich, she doesnt have to be smart, she just has to be willing. There are guys that are dumpy, short, fat, bald that have hot wives/gfs, they also usually have a hell of a lot of money, thats why they have the hot gf.

Women think men put as much thought into how they percieve the opposite sex as women do...we dont. On a date, women want men who are funny, charming, nicely dressed, decent job, decent place to live, atleast a little money in his pocket. He needs to be interesting, well read, carry on a good conversation..etc..etc. But on the other side of that...men are happy if you show up naked and bring beer.

The point is women starve themselves and do all the stuff they do to themselves for the approval of other women...not of men. We dont care if you look like 'the beautiful people' in hollywood. I mean we appreciate the hair, nails, makeup, heels (especially the heels ) but in reality...we're sort of like a hooker, there's no need to romance us..we're a sure thing

I guess, I'm not a typical female then! I like to look good for me!
One of my fav mottos is...I am who I am, your approval not needed!

Another is, I don't care if you love me or hate me, either way...I'm always on your mind!

And there is Shopping is fun, DUH!
MissTerraK

[MissTerraK]

Originally Posted by myob

I read Cosmo just to keep up with all of my wife's little tricks.
But sure glad she don't read my Muscle mag.

Muscle as in your body or muscle as in cars?
MissTerraK

[valerieSONORA]

Oh puhleeeeeeeeezzzzzzz
What type of woman would most men go after, a fat one or skinny one?
And ugly one or hot one?
One with big boobs or flat chested?
Want to do an experiment? Go to any dating site and see what men are looking for. How many will list slim/looks on their requirements? Lets see how many will say must be slim or something to that nature?
How many are looking for fat, ugly, flat chested?
Wanna do another experiment, take a hot lady and a plain looking overweight one. Who's gonna get the attention? Common sense. People judge by looks, may not be fair or nice but that's the way it is like it or not.
Nobody buys your dumb illogical story.
Personally I'm like Terra, I really don't care what anyone else thinks but I want to take care of me for ME, not for anyone else. It's my body and my life so if I improve, it only helps me, not doing it for anyone else.

By the way from a female perspective at least in my case, women are easier on each other. When one has low self confidence then another woman brings her up, doesn't tell her she's too fat or not good enough or ugly.

[myob]

Originally Posted by MissTerraK

Muscle as in your body or muscle as in cars?
MissTerraK

It's for my muscles, to impress all the hot chicks and wild things.
With my size, (uh.. bulk) I don't fit inside any of those muscle cars.

[myob]

Originally Posted by MissTerraK

... MYOB, you know how stubborn I can be! LOL!
MissTerraK

Yea, I know.

[ForeignProfessor]

Originally Posted by HeySal

I did an extremely indepth study and have a manual on all of the reasons we are so fat here (we meaning YOU/THEY - I am 5'6" and 110 lbs). There are many factors in play that are not even related to food....as well as many that are, such as the MSG they are pouring into almost everything and if you read the REAL stats on that stuff it's not much of a wonder that the US is one of the only, if not the only, countries in the world that would allow such poison dumped in food.

Can you show me a link which explains the dangers of MSG? I looked into it in the past and from what I read at the time it didn't seem to be harmful at all.

MSG as a food flavoring was 'invented' in Japan. Invented is a misnomer, it was a method of manufacturing the umani taste. In Asia it is quite common for MSG to be used as a table condiment, in the same way that salt and pepper are typically offered in the West. Asia is beginning to suffer an obesity problem but it is due to people moving to a more meat-heavy and snack-heavy western diet and away from traditional rice + side dishes.

If I was to lay the blame on anything, I think it would be on Corn. Corn as in the inedible stuff that is grown across the midwest and used only as an ingredient to be put in maufactured food. Not the delicious corn you eat with butter.

A wonderful book on food in America is "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan. It's about where 'regular' food, 'organic' food and more naturally grown foods come from. The writer is a committed omnivore, so it's not a tract on the wonderfulness of vegetarianism or anything else offputting. It's a fantastic book but might put you off eating in America since it explains where the food comes from and how it is produced.

[MissTerraK]

Originally Posted by myob

Yea, I know.

Aww, don't be so sad! It's fun!
MissTerraK

[ghyphena]

Originally Posted by HeySal

As far as MSG in food - they dump it in almost everything here in the states. Very scary and is causing a LOT of illness.

I lived in China for a few years while I was in Middle School. I went to an American private school but the lunches were factory-worker-grade local fare... and they put MSG on EVERYTHING.

Same for the restaurants - MSG was practically used as a salt substitute.

Question is (curious, not challenging): how come it doesn't affect the Chinese that badly if it's such a dangerous additive?

Although, caveat, the new middle class Chinese kids are ridiculously obese, so maybe it's a matter of moderation and lack thereof...

Gil-Ad

[CDarklock]

Originally Posted by valerieSONORA

I didn't know men read cosmo lol

I had a subscription.

That and Glamour.

[css]

You have heard of "push-ups"? There is another one in USA, its called the "push-away". Push the plate "away" from you.

[derekwong28]

Sal, I am eating celery already when I wake up in the morning but the problem is I eat at KFC afterwards havinf driven my daughter to school. I couldn't resist eating at that revolving restaurant again. For $15, I must have had 20-30 rock lobsters plus 6 thin slices of roast prime rib.

What gets me is how KFC managed to raise their prices twice this year and get away with it, whereas the "normal" food restaurants are still in the doldurms. Now, quite a few Burger King meals cost more than $5 and this is really getting expensive.

Derek