Would you like fries with that?
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Or a dose of obesity.
We’ve been having an ongoing argument in the office in recent months about the nutritional value of the humble chip.
And the verdict is in, at least from our committee of two.
Covered in oil and deep fried the potato chip is the cause of many of our dietary problems.
It’s not so much the chip but the abundance of chips that appear on our plates.
Many of the chips we consume come via drive-thru but the plethora of fast food restaurants along our highways are not the only purveyor of the humble chip in excessive amounts.
Think back to the last time you ordered a steak or a chicken parmigiana, if you recall correctly you’ll remember the plate was covered in chips.
And did you eat your steak or parmigiana first, or did you consume your chips first?
If you answer honestly it will be the latter that you filled up on before consuming your chicken or beef.
Worse still, if you’re not a big eater there’s a good chance you didn’t finish the healthier portion of your meal.
According to McDonalds, and I am in no way singling McDonald’s out as their servings are actually smaller than those dished up in restaurants, but according to Maccas a medium order of fries (117 grams) has 370 calories along with 19 grams of fat, a full 29% of your daily value. Sodium clocks in at 266 mg, or 11% of the upper limit you should eat in a day.
“Here we have an extremely starchy vegetable dipped in a fryer that then loads on the unhealthy fat, and what you have left is a food that has no nutritional redeeming value in it at all,” says Kristin Kirkpatrick, RD, manager of wellness nutrition services at Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute.
And that’s just a medium serving from McDonalds who at least now let diners know the calorie count etc of their foods.
That plate of chips you consume with a restaurant or pub meal is often much much larger.
It’s time we all strive for a healthier lifestyle. You can do so much to improve your well-being without hitting the treadmill.
Next time you order a meal and you have a choice, opt for the healthier alternative.
A side of salad or veges is going to be a lot better for you long term than the chips.
Andrew Fisher