Diet Misconceptions

Sometimes I'll hear something on a radio talk show that makes me want to reach for my cell phone and dial. Today was one of those times.

I was channel surfing and stopped briefly to listen to a show that is not on my daily listening list. I live in Utah and the host is a Mormon, and he was discussing the fact recent report stating that members of the LDS church are on average five pounds heavier than members of other religions. Having lived in Utah for close to two years, I would venture to say that it's more than five pounds, but I digress.

Anyway, he had some women callers on the show, one mentioning that the fact that Mormons tend to have so many children means they have to economize and that they end up eating foods that are less expensive, but more filling (and fattening). As an example she mentioned casseroles. Another woman called in saying that she was not raised LDS and that when she grew up there were lots of fresh fruits and vegetables in the house and not much meat, but that when she first visited her husband's (at the time, boyfriend) Mormon family, there were tons of mashed potatoes, gravy, casseroles and other not-slimming foods.

The talk show host came back saying that although he was not a nutritionist (no kidding) as far as he was concerned casseroles were good, healthy, stick-to-your-ribs food.

AAAaaarggGHH! I absolutely HATE to hear misinformation like this being spread.

I've been to get-togethers where folks are mainly from the midwest. They are not what I would call "fit". Actually to not put too fine a point on it, they are obese to morbidly obese. Now what sorts of foods do you think appear on the dinner table at these gatherings?

Mashed potatoes, tons of gravy and casseroles.