If you missed Grandma Lee on America's Got Talent, here are the videos:
Friday, September 18, 2009
FAST FOOD FACTS: Taco Bell
As I’ve mentioned before, it’s unlikely that I will completely give up fast food. It’s so convenient. But I am trying to choose what I order with care. Beth and I ate a lot of Taco Bell over the summer, so I thought I’d look over their menu and find out what the low calorie options were.
First, avoid their salads. Their Chicken Ranch Taco Salad has 960 calories and 1710 mgs of salt, while the Chipotle Steak Taco Salad comes in at 950 calories and 1760mgs of salt.
Originally I was looking for entrees under 350 calories, and had a page long list. Then, I added 2 additional criteria – less than 35% of daily sodium and roughly one third (or less) of calories from fat. That last one dramatically shrunk the list.
Here are FOUR Lo-Cal FAVORITES from Taco Bell:
- GRILLED CHICKEN SOFT SHELL TACO – 200 calories – 32% of daily sodium – 70 calories from fat
- SOFT TACO – BEEF – 210 calories – 31% of daily sodium – 80 calories from fat
- SOFT TACO SUPREME® - BEEF – 240 calories –33% of daily sodium – 100 calories from fat
- GORDITA SUPREME® - CHICKEN – 300 calories – 34% of daily sodium – 120 calories from fat
- I got this information from http://m.tacobell.com/nutrition.do?pid=7
Eat this, Not That agrees with me. They listed a Taco Bell salad as the Worst Meal at the place. The Fiesta Taco Salad with Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes, and Large Mountain Dew has 1,690 calories, 60 g fat (14 g saturated fat, 3 g trans fats) and 2,540 mg sodium. The web site went on to say, “Grilled Stuffed Burritos, anything prepared with multiple ""layers"", and anything served in a bowl are your worst options at Taco Bell. Despite the chain's switch the trans fat-free frying oil in April of 2007, the taco salads still contain an unhealthy dose of this heart-threatening fat.” (See http://eatthis.menshealth.com/content/worst-fast-food-meals-america?article=19&page=1 for more.) If you're going to eat at Taco Bell, they recommend the following meal: two Grilled Steak Soft Tacos, Fresco Style Mexican Rice, and Medium Diet Pepsi. It has 430 calories, 12 g fat (3 g saturated fat) and 1,660 mg sodium. Personally, I’m trying to stay below that.
Last month, I did a post on McDonald’s. (http://fatfamilyotherfwords.blogspot.com/2009/08/fast-food-mcdonalds.html ) I did not include the percentage of calories from fat in the criteria, because I didn’t think of it then. Eat This, Not That says the Chicken Selects® Premium Breast Strips (5 pc) with Creamy Ranch Sauce with Large French Fries, and Large Coke is the Worst McDonald’s Meal. It has 1,670 calories, 87 g fat (13 g saturated fat) and 2,370 mg sodium. Instead, they like the Quarter-Pounder without Cheese with a Side Salad with Low-Fat Balsamic Vinaigrette, and Large Iced Tea. It has 470 calories, 22 g fat (7 g saturated fat, 1 g trans fat) and 1,490 mg sodium. Find out more at http://eatthis.menshealth.com/content/worst-fast-food-meals-america?article=14&page=1
Quote for 9/18/09: Joey Adams on Being Witty
Thursday, September 17, 2009
FIASCO and the Bronze Balls of Hypocrisy
Last year, Goldman Sachs received a 12 billion lifeline from the U.S. government. After that, each of the firm's 443 partners pocketed an average Christmas bonus in the millions. According to CEO Lloyd Blankfein, "There is little justification for the payment of outsized discretionary compensation when a financial institution lost money for the year." Now lets see. Goldman Sachs received a government bail out, because they were having trouble, right? And then they gave out record setting bonuses, right? Hm-m-m. I nominate Lloyd Blankfein for the 2009 Bronze Balls of Hypocrisy Award.
In the second quarter of this year, the bank netted a record $3.44 billion and reports indicate that it may be shelling out a staggering $12 billion or so in bonus cash. I support bonuses for hard work, BUT I don’t think my tax dollars should finance a banker’s lavish life style.
Nowhere could I find a story about Goldman Sachs paying the government back. If they’d repaid the American taxpayer, then their bonuses are none of our business. Until then … I wish they had a product I could quit buying. As it is, the only weapon left to the American taxpayer is public mockery.
So I urge you to write your favorite late night comic. We want more Goldman Sachs jokes!
Interested in more:
- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1081624/Goldman-Sachs-ready-hand-7BILLION-salary-bonus-package--6bn-bail-out.html
- http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/now-goldman-sachs-boss-takes-potshot-at-bonuses-1784505.html
- http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/blankfein_shoots_bonus_blanks_4YFaRaULD3v9QGU9L90EmM
- http://www.miamiherald.com/business/nation/story/1225188.html
- http://www.goldmansachs666.com/2009/07/this-website-has-not-been-approved-by.html
- http://thinkprogress.org/2008/09/22/paulson-goldman-bailout
Quote for 9/17/09 - Carrie Fisher on Diet Soda
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Are You FAT Because You’re FAMISHED? Part One
Diet gurus from TV to the Internet promise that with their special plan you can loose weight and not be hungry. Adkins says that fat is more filling. The Full Plate Diet pushes fiber for the same reason. In the United States over the past month, 671,000 web pages have addressed hunger and dieting. I’ve lost 75 pounds over the last year and a half. I have a few thoughts on the subject.
If you buy your 2-year-old a toy every time you’re at the store, guess what? He’ll expect you to keep doing it. If you regularly overeat, the 2-year-old in your body will throw a tantrum, when you stop. So what? Drink a glass of water, iced tea, coffee or diet pop. Wait awhile. If that doesn’t work, eat a piece of fruit, carrot sticks or some kind of 100-calorie snack. Get busy. Do something else. Don’t be a drama queen and fixate on it. Move on.
What makes you lose weight is eating fewer calories than you need, so your body burns the stored calories. A little hunger means you’re succeeding. I don’t recommend radical diets. Most people (including me) can’t stick to them. Starving yourself for a week solves nothing. Cut back enough so you loose a pound a week or 5 a month. When it quits working, you’ve reached the even point. Then, cut a little more. The idea that you won’t occasionally be hungry is just silly.
I’m pretty disgusted by the diet industry’s empty promises, but why do they get away with it? Because we want something for nothing! We want to lose weight without sweat and without hunger. Talk about spoiled 2-year-olds.
Quote for 9/16/09: Variations on a Theme
Outside every thin girl is a fat man trying to get in. -- Katharine Whitehorn
Outside every fat man there is an even fatter man trying to close in. -- Kingsley Amis (One Fat Englishman, 1963)
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