super sized

[shootingstar]

Have been checking out Portland's offerings for brunch, breakfast since we are heading down this weekend.

Supersize lunches here:
http://www.kennyandzukes.com/pics/ 1 of their multistacked, meat sandwich choices, would last me for 2-3 meals.

[Grog]

Have been checking out Portland's offerings for brunch, breakfast since we are heading down this weekend.

Off topic, can't resist: try Bijou Cafe at 132 SW 3rd avenue. One of the best simple breakfast around, I think, especially if you like eggs. Their eggs are so tasty!

[papaver]

Have been checking out Portland's offerings for brunch, breakfast since we are heading down this weekend.

Supersize lunches here:
http://www.kennyandzukes.com/pics/ 1 of their multistacked, meat sandwich choices, would last me for 2-3 meals.

this is a real stomach turner for me...

[tulip]

I saw seriously obese people, and alot of them, in rural Canada. I was pretty stunned...I guess it's a North American thing (I can't speak for Mexico, though), not just the US. I've never been to the rural midwest US, though, just the northeast, mid-atlantic, southeast, and southwest (lots of tall skinny cowboys).

[GLC1968]

I know that American's are generally more overweight that in most countries, but I routinely observed some oddities when we lived in FL. We had free anual passes to Busch Gardens (a huge amusement park with rides and live animals for those unfamiliar with it) and we also often made the trip to Disney and Universal Studios for the weekend getaway.

Every single time we went, I was surprised by the sheer overweightness (is that a word?) and lack of fitness of the other patrons. All of them, it seemed...and kids too. And these weren't just people who were big but possibly fit/athletic...these were people who were often wheezing just standing in line. But the part that blew my mind the most? They weren't always Americans. Often times, they were visiting on vacation from some other country (as evidenced by their language or clothing). Maybe it speaks to the type of people who plan vacations around amusement parks, but to me, it seems like while the poorest people on this planet are starving, the weathiest are getting fatter.

[OakLeaf]

while the poorest people on this planet are starving, the weathiest are getting fatter.

It's more like the poorest are starving, the next poorest are getting obese, and only the relatively wealthy are fit and healthy.

As GLC posted, most of the issue in developed nations has to do with agriculture subsidies, cash cropping, HFCS and the like. A large portion of vegetables at the grocery store has maybe 2-300 calories and costs as much as an entire meal at McD's. So the family gets frozen or canned vegies, or none at all.

Then, many of the poor work two or three jobs just to survive. (And those on food stamps are required to work them off at sub-minimum wage, thanks to the welfare repeal of the 1990s.) They come home from work exhausted, and spending even an hour on food prep (which doesn't sound like much to most of us) is just too much. There's no room in their TIME budget for visiting farmers' markets even when they are in season locally, especially with the limited hours that most markets run. So they buy processed foods. Cheap, quick, deadly calories.

[Biciclista]

Oakleaf, you're right. In India the middle class is suffering from diabetes problems while the poor are starving.
In our country; no one starves, our poor are suffering from an epidemic of diabetes.

[Eden]

I personally think the idea that buying healthy is more expensive is a myth..... granted there are places where the supply of veggies is dismal to non-existent, but that's a different problem.

You just have to pick and choose your veggies carefully - Cabbage, sweet potatoes, carrots, greens - yes! healthy, cheap, plentiful and filling. Just avoid the "specialty veggies" unless they are on sale and it really not very expensive at all. If you cut a lot of meat from your diet, it gets even cheaper - meat is super expensive, beans and tofu not at all - even canned beans are cheap, cheap, cheap compared to meat. When you think about how little you get with a freezer meal - there's no comparison to what is less expensive...

[Zen]

maybe 2-300 calories and costs as much as an entire meal at McD's. So the family gets frozen or canned vegies, or none at all.

You have to buy seasonally and shop the specials. I got a bunch of broccoli yesterday for a dollar and today I'm going back for collards at the same price