I've got it: I finally know the secret to why people are all skinny here and I'm about to blow all of their cover!
1. Lack of nutrition facts on the sides of edible items.
Seriously.
I never was much for labels in the States...what you don't know won't hurt you right? Calorie-counting is not my style because, as a carb addict, I know I'm in too deep for letting that kind of thing scare me. However, since living here, I can't stop examining packages of food-everything from our frozen broccolli to the bite-sized creamy French chocolate bar with a name I can't pronounce, for just a scrap of real information--I mean, do these people think they've got something to hide??
Take yesterday for example: Kate and I consumed an entire ice cream cake (courtesy of the local grocer's frozen ice cream section), which amounted to about 119 grams of "Energy" each. I think. Or was that per slice? Anyway, I like the idea that they call the only measured item in their food "energy." And when they can't completely redo the nutrition facts into energy and what have you, they COVER THEM UP.
I kid you not.
Kate and I are known patrons of a certain brand of dark chocolate chunk cookie that we used to have all the time back home, and when I triumphantly grabbed the package and eyed the trusty American side panel, I could scarcely believe my eyes:
They had pasted a gigantic sticker with a recipe on it over the label. I think it was something about what you could do with enormous chocolate chunk cookies besides dunking them in a huge glass of milk (which seems a lesser alternative) but I was so dumbfounded I can't remember the exact recipe.
And I swear they did it on purpose.
So, because the information is suppressed by the government in some huge conspiracy, I guess the people don't give a hoot about labels...unless they're on a hanger.
2. Stairs.
Everywhere. It came to my realization the 4th-ish time we visited an apartment for the first time--this time it was Lucy I think. So the first words out of her mouth as we entered the building were, "Sorry...there are definitely a lot of stairs." And we weren't a bit surprised, because every single place we've been to has involved at least 4 flights of windy, wooden stairs spiraling straight up up up until it makes you dizzy if you try to follow them with your eyes. So we laughed and said, "Of course, no problem." because now we are stair masters. We have mastered the stairs.
3. Pastries.
I think if you can eat a healthy amount of pastries, you feel good about life and therefore feel less guilt and there you have it.
4. Of course, smaller everything.
When Kate and I go all out and have 2 cokes each and half a chocolate cake here, what that roughly translates to back home is one coke each and 2 slices of cake. Yeah....it's crazy.
But mostly, I think people here just don't take weight seriously enough to get too excited about it. And I've got to admit, it feels nice.
Bon appetit!
1 comment:
of course, here in the US of A, the nutritional labels aren't that helpful either. my half gallon of blue bell natural vanilla bean (come over! i'll scoop you up a bowl) says 180 calories per serving, which is 1/2 cup. a half cup? i eat a half cup nibbling on it while making a bowl.
but i bow to your collective ability to eat a can of sour cream in one setting. just keep visiting those friends on the fourth floor. a lot.
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