Why can't what we're supposed to eat be what we want to eat?

[Guest guest]

A 'great big greasy burger'

Carrington recently bought one and devoured half over lunch — and half

at dinner. She doesn't eat them all the time. But, she says, " I don't

see a problem with getting a great big greasy burger every now and then. "

Fike couldn't agree more. The 66-year-old fundraiser from

Midland, Ga. — who closely watches his calorie and fat intake while

eating at home during the week — isn't shy to admit that come Friday

and Saturday nights, he's partial to going out for double

cheeseburgers and fries. He gets them like clockwork every weekend.

" I'd rather have that than any other meal, " says Fike, who also

happens to be an avid jogger and walker and, at 165 pounds, says he's

within two or three pounds of his high school graduation weight. " For

me, the weekend is a celebration. I'm going to enjoy myself — and the

hell with what I'm 'supposed' to be eating. "

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2005-05-12-bad-food-cover_x.htm

Why can't what we're supposed to eat be what we want to eat? I feel so

lucky! I like bitter! I like to chew garlic cloves -a half dozen at a

time! I like broccoli sprouts raw. Taste pleasingly " nutty " to me. I

prefer big salads with every imaginable vegetable drowned in only red

wine or balsamic vinegar! Don't like those " complex " fatty dressings!

i can pass the doughnut counter without a second glance and without

the slightest remorse! I have no desire for chocolate. I have no

" sweettooth " to speak of. Hamburger, steak, french fries all fried

foods for that matter leave me with an disagreeable aftertaste. Give

me lentil soup and strawberries over hamburger and fries any day!

Why can't what we're supposed to eat be what we want to eat? I feel so

lucky!

(Sorry for the rant

[Guest guest]

Hi :

Well to answer directly, in two words, the question in your subject

line: " Natural selection " .

In the days before 'civilization' appeared on the scene (~10,000

years ago in Mesopotamia) Mcs had not yet built an outlet on

every corner. Quite the contrary, the search for food to eat for the

next meal was our ancestors' most urgent daily priority most days of

their lives.

In those days some of them liked the taste of sweet and fatty foods,

others did not. Those who liked them ate lots of them when available

and, as a result, consumed plenty of calories. The others did not

like them and turned up their noses at such calorically dense foods

and consequently consumed many fewer calories.

Then, when the next winter came, or the next drought/famine arrived,

or the next herd of wildebeest did not come by on schedule, those

with the smaller calorie reserve (body fat) died off first, while

some of the others lived just long enough, surviving on their fat

stores, until the spring, or the next rain, or the wildebeest

reappeared. They survived. They had kids. Those that did not like

fat and sugar were no longer around to have kids.

After many generations, many droughts, famines, locust plagues, etc.

the only ones still around, and having kids, were those who liked,

and ate as much as they could find of, the two most calorie-

concentrated food sources - sugar and fat. We are the descendants of

these people .......... the ones who survived only because they

liked the taste of sugar and fat. Seriously.

If you do not like sugar and fat you must be the result of a long

recessed gene (JUST JOKING!!!). But that is your good fortune in an

era when an expedition to find food occupies only a couple of hours a

week, and is guaranteed to be successful, every time.

Rodney.

> A 'great big greasy burger'

>

> Carrington recently bought one and devoured half over lunch — and

half

> at dinner. She doesn't eat them all the time. But, she says, " I

don't

> see a problem with getting a great big greasy burger every now and

then. "

>

> Fike couldn't agree more. The 66-year-old fundraiser from

> Midland, Ga. — who closely watches his calorie and fat intake while

> eating at home during the week — isn't shy to admit that come Friday

> and Saturday nights, he's partial to going out for double

> cheeseburgers and fries. He gets them like clockwork every weekend.

>

> " I'd rather have that than any other meal, " says Fike, who also

> happens to be an avid jogger and walker and, at 165 pounds, says

he's

> within two or three pounds of his high school graduation

weight. " For

> me, the weekend is a celebration. I'm going to enjoy myself — and

the

> hell with what I'm 'supposed' to be eating. "

>

> http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2005-05-12-bad-food-

cover_x.htm

>

> Why can't what we're supposed to eat be what we want to eat? I feel

so

> lucky! I like bitter! I like to chew garlic cloves -a half dozen at

a

> time! I like broccoli sprouts raw. Taste pleasingly " nutty " to me. I

> prefer big salads with every imaginable vegetable drowned in only

red

> wine or balsamic vinegar! Don't like those " complex " fatty

dressings!

> i can pass the doughnut counter without a second glance and without

> the slightest remorse! I have no desire for chocolate. I have no

> " sweettooth " to speak of. Hamburger, steak, french fries all fried

> foods for that matter leave me with an disagreeable aftertaste. Give

> me lentil soup and strawberries over hamburger and fries any day!

>

> Why can't what we're supposed to eat be what we want to eat? I feel

so

> lucky!

>

> (Sorry for the rant