Is Your BonBon Half Full or Half Empty?
I’m sure it doesn’t surprise anyone to know that chocolate has been in the news over this past weekend. Valentine’s Day always does a great job of shining the spotlight on the number one craveable item for women. And so Canadian researchers have published their findings from a study that examines the results of multiple studies investigating the relationship between chocolate and stroke risk. The good news is that at least two large studies have shown a significantly lower risk for stroke among women that have a small amount of chocolate each week. A third study found no link at all between the two.
So I ask you, which study will you believe? I know my answer.
Three Cheers for the Five (Plus) Senses
I was just reading an article in The New York Times on the “Hunt for an Edible Equivalent of Viagara”, which explores the reputed aphrodisiacal powers of food. It seems that scientists have taken a strong interest in the powers of taste and smell to manipulate our behavior, and are investigating the truth behind the rumors.
You can read the complete article yourself for the suspects and the proofs, but the bottom line as far as I can tell is that there’s too much at play to draw any specific conclusions. In some cases it’s the right combination of scents, in other circumstances it’s a special combination of memories evoked by the scent that changes our feelings. Some foods have power because of the way they look, and others because of the nutrients within.
I think it’s a very personal combination of taste, smell, look, sound (crunchy, squishy, etc.), texture, and the sixth sense – the mind – that creates that perfect menu for romantic dining. Where you grew up, what your family enjoyed on special occasions, memories of your first high school date, the cultural influences you absorbed throughout your life - all of those situations add to the power of the food you enjoy today.
Bon Appetit and Happy Valentine’s Day!
Thoughts on Super Bowl Food
If You Can't Take the Grease, Get Out of the Party
It’s kind of hard to avoid hearing about great ideas for a Super Bowl party during the week leading up to the big game. You probably know that the usual menu consists of high fat and high salt items that many people would feel too guilty eating in one sitting on a regular day. Walking into a Super Bowl party and surveying the feast you might see any and all of these possible snacks: chicken wings, ribs, chili, chips, dip, nachos, guacamole, pizza, pulled pork sandwiches, hoagies, cheesesteaks, barbecue, sliders, hot dogs, or add your favorite here __________________. Don’t forget the buckets of beer to wash down all these goodies.
It’s pretty easy to speculate that the reason for this particular menu is that Super Bowl Sunday is the day for manly men. Grunt. And no manly man is going to want to go anywhere near a salad on that day of vicarious sweating and tackling. However, I would guess that many women welcome, at least secretly, the license to indulge in food at a Super Bowl buffet that they wouldn’t normally dare to order for themselves in public. The tradition of this party gives license to guilty eating.
And that’s okay as far as I’m concerned. If you’re a little more aware of your diet choices the rest of the year, why not enjoy those guilty pleasures? As a matter of fact it annoys me when I see segments on tv that talk about healthy eating strategies for a Super Bowl Party. If you really can’t bear the thought of eating the high fat buffet, either don’t eat anything (nobody is watching what you put into your mouth) or skip the party altogether. There’s no good reason to be the wet blanket on everyone else’s fun.
Now bring on the nachos and guacamole.