Seriously? …Seriously? (and pssst...a Giveaway!)

“What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets.  I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving?” -Erma Bombeck

I’m talking to my mom on my way to work this morning, requesting my favorite coffee creamer while she was grocery shopping. Mom just happens to mention, “Well, the store was out of pecan pies, so I got pecan pie cups. Good portion control, right?” Where do I begin with the wrongness of this all.

1. Pecan pie should be homemade.


2. Pecan pie cups? Give me a break. No pumpkin PIE is the equivalent of Christmas without a Christmas tree littering gifts beneath it.

I feel so shafted already. Pecan pie is a once-a-year-can’t-live-without-it STAPLE. 
Holds. Me. Together. All. Year. Treat.

As un-healthy as that little tantrum is, I could’ve verbally berated husband last night after he decided he NEEDED (yes, NEEDED) Buffalo Wild Wings. Let’s not be confused here, I love anything involving wing sauce -- it’s a guilty pleasure. Just look to the right there and you can see that SEVERAL of my “must-try” recipes contain wing sauce. However, BW3’s is 30 minutes away from home and I had a headache and a wonderful, healthy pad Thai dinner planned. But no, husband NEEDED wings. So, off we go at 8:30pm (had to wait til the game was on!), only to arrive and find that both the restaurant and inhaler-requiring bar were filled to capacity and there was a 40-minute wait. On a Tuesday. One would think they were GIVING AWAY $0.40 wings, my goodness! After flashing him a stink face and a blatant, annoyed eye roll, we left BW3’s for a silent 30-minute commute back home.

I am a man. I do NOT want to watch games (football, basketball, or otherwise) that I care about in a bar watching a TV without volume and obnoxious patrons taking away from my viewing experience. Which leads me to the acceptance of a sad truth: I am old. On a Tuesday evening after an 11-hour work day, I want to be a homebody. I want to be in my warm house, in my cuddly clothes, enjoying healthy, homemade food, watching and listening to my sporting pleasure! Last night being Fighting Illini men’s basketball.

Is anyone else a huge homebody, especially once the fall and winter seasons encroach?

My crankiness subsided this morning when I opened my office door to a package from Newman's Owns Organics (not to be confused with Newman's Own). I've heard a lot about Newman's Owns Organics (NOO's) and I was interested in sampling some of their products. Well, let's just say I received an early Christmas gift this year! Check out the loot...

Thank you, Newman's Own Organics!! <3

Food models, mess, lunch (upper right), Zevia (upper left)...and the loot, scattered! My office is atrocious!

 An array of cookies...chocolate, Arrowroot, and chocolate chip!

 Choooooooocolate! Need I say more? Note: that dark chocolate bar

on the left is opened...I wonder who did that!!

 

 Fat-free AND low-fat Fig Newmans...love the play on words : )

 

 Dried fruit...prunes, apricots, apples, and berry blend. The apples are delicious! They are completely all-natural in taste, not all pumped up with sugar!!

 

For my afternoon snack, I had 2 original Hermits. Um, DELICIOUS! They are so moist and rich in flavor...love them!! Favorite taste from Newman's Own Organics thus far!!

 

Mint rolls -- Peppermint, Wintergreen, Ginger, and Hot (not pictured, oops!)

 Newman's O's -- Chocolate and Mint!!

 

 There was a 3rd bag, but one of my patient's ate them. Thumbs up! Especially excited about the protein pretzels!

 

 Soy crisps! Can't wait to try!

 

 Hot, Wintergreen, Ginger (yum!), and peppermint mints. The ginger ones are delicious!!!

 

And Newman's Own Organics even sent something for the puppy -- dog treats! Lily gives the salmon and sweet potato treats a high-five (and my dog gives high-5's, no joke!)

And since 'tis the season to be giving...a GIVEAWAY for you all! And because that box weighs about 25 pounds!!! THANK YOU, NEWMAN'S OWN ORGANICS!!!

NEWMAN'S OWNS ORGANICS GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!

There will be 2 winners as there's plenty of goodies to go around...

Giveaway 1: The Cookie Monster

Newman's Own Organics Champion Chip Cookies (Chocolate)

Newman's Own Organics Ginger Hermits

Newman's Own Organics 54% cocoa Dark Chocolate Bar

Giveaway 2: The Smorgasbord

 Newman's Own Organics White Cheddar Soy Crisps

Newman's Own Organics California Prunes

Newman's Own Organics 54% cocoa Espresso Dark Chocolate Bar

How to enter? Lots of ways! 

Enter up to 4 times by doing one, two, three...or all of the following:

1. Post a comment with your giveaway selection preference below (1 or 2, see above)

2. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with a link back to your tweet, 
or follow me @PreventionRD

3. If you're a blogger, post about this Newman's Own Organics Giveaway with a link back to this post on your blog. Leave a comment below containing your blog/post link!

4. Email me a favorite, healthy recipe at Mrs.RD44@gmail.com

Entries will be taken through Sunday, November 29th at 12pm (Central Time) and the winners will be announced on my Sunday blog post!


Sampled thus far: 70% cocoa organic chocolate bar (super yum!) and organic dried apples. Mmm!


A patient this morning had to fast for a late lab appointment and by the time he made it over to my office for his nutrition appointment, he was so hungry he had a headache. I handed my country bumpkin of a patient Newman's Own Organics salted pretzels, and that country bumpkin chowed down. And believe you me, I'd have heard about it if he didn't love'em! Thumbs up, Newman's Own Organics!!

Looking forward to Pad Thai tonight and an early departure to Chicago tomorrow morning! If our flight is delayed, we’ll be missing Thanksgiving dinner. Wish us luck, O’Hare doesn’t have the best of records when it comes to flight delays.

Have a wonderful, safe, healthful, and relaxing Thanksgiving!

Recipes and Reform

Boy, do I have a treat for you all today! Go to Gina's WW Recipes for some WONDERFUL and EASY recipes to try! My patient load is light today and I was able to spend some time perusing her blog this morning, saving TONS of recipes I'd like to try! If you enter your email address into her FeedBurner, you'll never miss a great recipe delivered right to your inbox!

Today for lunch I ordered take-out from Chili's Guiltless Grill (our microwave at work is still on the fritz)...the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich to be exact. It was really good! I was feeling great about my "Guiltless Grill" selection until I learned of the sodium...over 2,300 milligrams! Ahhh! At least the sandwich was only 386 calories, 7 grams of fat, and contained 9 grams of fiber??? :-/ Disappointing, Chili's! Very disappointing! I've also been reading Gina's blog, which has probably made me hypersensitive about sodium levels...which is a good thing!!!!!

Today for a snack I tried the Kay's Naturals Honey Almond Protein Cereal (gluten-free). I love the crunch of a cereal, but would be interested to see if the crunch held when served with milk (I ate the cereal plain). Most gluten-free products are "airy" in taste, weight, and texture...and the Kay's Naturals products are no exception. Though I should mention, I am a fan of the "light-weight" nature of gluten-free products...less bloat, I feel. The Honey Almond Protein Cereal is lightly sweetened, nothing over-powering which I prefer. Again, the portion size is excellent and one serving contains 100 calories, 3 grams of fiber, and 9 grams of protein! Nice work, Kay's Naturals...I am LOVING your products! Thank you!!

And in the news...a feather in the caps of those like myself in prevention...

A new poll for American's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation shows the majority of Americans consider disease prevention the MOST important element of health care reform.

The US Department of Health and Human Services aimed to reduce obesity rates to 15% in every state before 2010 (baaahahaha!). However, the trend is showing movement in the opposite direction -- obesity rates continuing to rise. As of 1991, no US state had an obesity rate over 20%. Today, only Colorado has an obesity rate under 20%.

In playing devil's advocate I have to propose...DO we (as a nation) want to change, or are we just sick and tired of our ill-fate if trends continue? 

If you had to take a side in this debate, what do you feel is consensus for the nation as a whole: 

a) improve health through prevention (nutrition, exercise, and preventative health care)

--OR--

b) continue Western medicine of treating the disease and not the problem

Poll Results & Buffalo Chicken Lasagna

So, Thanksgiving food tops all holiday food, eh? I, personally, voted for New Years Eve, as did husband (note: I simply asked him the question verbally as he is yet to participate in supporting my blogging by reading!). I enjoy a fine-dining experience, stellar meals, and champagne toasts...lots! Heck, I enjoy any meal not resulting in a messy kitchen and dishes!

Follow-up question posed to all you Thanksgiving day lovers: What do YOU eat on Thanksgiving? What's your favorite Thanksgiving dish? Recipes are always welcomed...hint hint!

My grannie used to make Pineapple Souffle and while it sounds odd, it is absolutely amazing! I will have to post the recipe as Halloween passes and Thanksgiving comes upon us.

In other news, husband-who-refuses-to-read-my-blog dined on another favorite dish last night: Buffalo Chicken Lasagna. As I've said before, we're huge lovers of all things buffalo wing and chicken and healthier options make me a happy dietitian and cook! This is a favorite in our household and while the cooking time is somewhat long, the dish itself is easy breezy. Adding spinach is a great option, too -- I just add it to the ricotta and Egg Beater mixture. Mmmm! Best part: this lasagna reheats like a charm! It's one of the few things husband looks forward to eating as leftovers!

BUFFALO CHICKEN LASAGNA

12 whole wheat lasagna noodles, uncooked
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed or shredded
3 cups Hunt’s Four Cheese Spaghetti Sauce
1 cup  mild buffalo wing sauce (low-fat! We use medium)
1 1/2 cups water
15 oz. nonfat ricotta cheese
1/2 cup egg substitute
9 slices 2% Pepperjack cheese

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Cook chicken over medium high heat for 4 minutes or until almost done. Stir in sauces and water. In a small bowl, combine ricotta cheese and egg substitute. Spray a 9X13 pan with nonstick cooking spray. Spread 1 Cup of sauce in the bottom of pan. Arrange 4 noodles over the sauce. Spread more sauce, then a layer of ricotta mixture. Add another layer of sauce, and repeat the whole process until you end with a layer of sauce. Cover and bake 70 minutes. Uncover and place cheese slices on top, then bake for another 15 minutes uncovered. Let stand 10-15 minutes before serving.

Serves: 9
Per Serving: 285 Calories; 4g Fat (13.7% calories from fat); 29g Protein; 31g Carbohydrate; 5g Dietary Fiber; 41mg Cholesterol

And I failed to journal a day, hence why I didn't record my diet from Wednesday yesterday -- but I did have that yummy squash for dinner that night and limited myself to half! It was difficult, for the record!!

Yesterday went like this...

Breakfast:

1/2 cup old-fashioned oats (2 carbs)

1 Tbsp pumpkin butter (1 carb)

1 tsp Splenda brown sugar (1/2 carb)

1/2 cup skim milk (1/2 carb)

     Total: 4 carbs

Lunch:

2 cups chicken noodle soup (2 carbs)

Arnold Thin (1 1/2 carbs)

1 slice 2% Colby Jack cheese (0 carbs)

1/2 small apple (1/2 carb)

     Total: 4 carbs

Snack:

1 serving baby carrots (0 carbs)

1/2 small apple (1/2 carb)

     Total: 1/2 carb

Dinner:

1 serving Buffalo Chicken Lasagna (2 carbs)

2 Michelob Ultras (1 carb)

     Total: 3 carbs

Snack:

2 fun-size Twix candy bars (1 1/2 carbs) -- oops...

1/2 cup skim milk (1/2 carb)

     Total: 2 carbs

I am planning to make steel cut oats this weekend. I've gathered several recipes and I will surely report my $0.02 on the stuff!

TGIF to all -- have a wonderful start to your weekend! I am crossing my fingers that husband and I can try out a new Japanese restaurant tonight! Mmmm...sushi!!  

...Fingers crossed, also, that my Illini can do something positive this weekend. Can I puhhhlease get a "W"? All the Ohio State fans in my life are making Saturdays rather painful!

A little of this, and a little of that...

I'm excited about a lot today! I'm going to try several new recipes this week including: Orange Hoisin Chicken, Chicken Cordon Bleu, and Baked Ziti Casserole. I'll post the recipes as I try them this week...and hopefully remember to take pictures before its demolished!

The weather in Tulsa is absolutely stunning! Lily and I went to the dog park and played HARD. She then requested a bath when we got home, and she is now napping/sunbathing in the yard, drying off. Rough life, eh? Unfortunately, I passed on a run this morning with husband because I have a late night hockey game. Just figures the weather is gorgeous and I exercise on a sheet of ice in 15 lbs of padding! 

Anywho, thank you to those who voted in the most recent poll asking what you enjoy reading most about on my blog. Research came out on top with recipes and my life's trials and tribulations surrounding nutrition and food coming in close second. I agree with you guys, the latest and greatest research is important, interesting, and nothing less than fascinating. I'll continue putting out a variety of topics so that everyone stays reading, happy, and most importantly, learning more about nutrition!

I tried a new Southaven Farms recipe this weekend -- Cherry Pie Muffins. These were BY FAR the best recipe I've made from Southaven Farms to date. They are delicccccious! My in-laws loved them!! Especially after 18 seconds in the microwave, says my father-in-law! They couldn't be any easier to make, too! I used the multigrain mix and the entire can of no sugar added cherry pie filling. The recipe made 18 really nice-sized muffins for approximately 95 calories, 2 grams of fat, and 3 grams of fiber. And did I mention they are DELICIOUS!? I'm certainly looking forward to breakfast this week!

 

 Pre-baked

 

 All done! See the yummy, plump, sweet cherries inside!?

Also this weekend, I got to talking with my neighbor who is a drug rep for Lilly. We were chatting away, and it comes out that he sells diabetes meds -- specifically Byetta and insulin (Humulin, Humolog)! We got to talking about me being a dietitian working with diabetics, and he gave me oodles of  "Nutrition in the Fast Lane" pamphlets put out by Lilly in his stocked-full garage. The pamphlet includes nutrition information for common fast food joints...lots of them! How cool! He stocked up the back of my car with the pamphlets. My patients are in for a treat in learning the truth about all the fast food out there! Thank you, neighbor!

Also, I have to give myself a little recognition for completing 10% (100 hours) of one-on-one diabetes education required to sit for the CDE exam as of Friday. That doesn't seem like a lot, but it took me 2 1/2 months to get those hours and I'm proud of each and every one of them! I hope to have 50% of the hours completed by July 1, 2010.

I was also contacted this week by a NuVal representative, after writing about NuVal back in June. I am in communication with Melissa, the NuVal representative, about gathering information to blog on specific NuVal ratings. If you were thinking Kashi was the epitome of healthy cereals, check out Melissa's post here on adult rated breakfast cereals. But first check out my June blog post on the NuVal system if you're unfamiliar with the rating system!

After many recommendations from friends, we finally tried KEO this weekend. It. was. amazing! I got the red curry and I should've taken a picture! It came with an option of white or brown rice (I got brown) and chose tofu as my meat. It was just incredible - the taste, the presentation, the reasonable portion size! I just can't rave enough about that dish and our experience at KEO. There are KEO locations also on the east coast for any readers out that way -- it's definitely worth taking a trip too! Sorry, no pictures...regretfully!

Last, I'm strongly throwing around the idea of going "diabetic" for 30 days -- the month of October. The 31st is Halloween so technically my 30 days would be over for trick or treating, right? Kidding, kidding. I just figure, if I'm talking the talk...maybe I could stand to walk the walk. I talk diabetic diets all day, maybe I should give it a go. More than eating a diabetic diet, it will take some adjusting to counting carbohydrates on a diabetic diet. Any reader thoughts or feedback on this idea?  

Also, does anyone else thing our Lily would make the cutest bumble bee for Halloween? Our neighborhood is packed with kids, many of whom know and love Lily. I think it's only appropriate our puppy participates!

Off to grocery shop...enjoy the reminder of the weekend, all!

Poll says: Mexican and Italian

My blog followers voted on their favorite ethnic food. With a whopping 12 votes (sigh!), 1/3 of the voters chose Mexican and 1/3 chose Italian. While Mexican takes the place of #1 in my heart, GOOD Italian is a close 2nd. I figured with all this talk it may be helpful to go over some menu strategy when consuming Mexican and Italian food. So here we go!

Mexican
- Chips and salsa. While delicious, you're adding a lot of added calories to your meal. Consume in moderation.
- Margs. STEER CLEAR. These babies should be a TREAT! A 16 ounce frozen margarita will run you 300 calories. Ouch! A great alternative: Corona Light. Yum! And a savings of 200 calories.
- Queso and white sauces. Green or red sauces are preferred for a lower-calories/lower-fat option.
- Chicken v. beef. While I'm not a beef basher, I am a basher of low-quality beef. Ground beef served in a restaurant is not going to be lean, so going with a chicken or fish entree will shave off some calories and fat.
- Go corn. Flour tortillas aren't the best choice and there's WAY more calories than you care to know packed into those babies. Corn tortillas are a healthier, and more flavorful option (in my opinion).
- Easy on the sour cream and guacamole. Great additions, lots of calories. Moderation.
- PORTIONS! Of all ethnic restaurants, portion sizes at Mexican restaurants are astronomical. I recommend ordering your meal al a carte (i.e. 2 chicken facos and a side of rice) if over-eating is an issue for you.

Italian
- Sauces. Butter, alfredo, and cream sauces should be replaced with marinaras and olive-oil based sauces.
- Choose a protein. Ordering a large pasta dish will not only leave you carb-crazed, but will also require more volume to leave you satisfied. Adding a protein (i.e. chicken or seafood) can help balance your meal and provide more satiety.
- Easy on the bread...and oil. While olive oil is rich in healthy MUFA's and PUFA's, a teaspoon or two is adequate intake. Dipping away will only lead to an excess of calories and fat.
- Caesar on the side. Caesar salad, while delicious, is high in fat. Order your dressing on the side and ration it sparingly yourself across your salad.
- Choose red wine. If you consume alcohol while dining, choose red wines rich in antioxidants. We've gone over this before...red wine = good. One glass for ladies, two for the gents.

This post made me hungry! Can't go wrong with Mexican or Italian!

Go on a date!

Date to lose weight? Yep! But don’t get married, nope. I blogged about marriage and weight gain in the past, and unfortunately for love, the two go hand-in-hand.

A study performed by psychologist Meredith Young, PhD found that women who eat a meal with a man...eat less. Women eating in large groups, however, tend to eat more and also consume foods which are more calorically dense [1]. Anyone see the Sex and the City episode where Carrie calls Miranda to meet at “their spot,” a local grease pit. Here Miranda and Carrie gossip over extra large pizza slices into the wee hours of the night. Always an exception to the study results!

Men, however, are a hold different beast. They, unlike women, do not vary their intake based on their company. Young’s research found that neither companions nor the gender makeup of the group had any impact on what men consumed. The results were all published online in the journal Appetite [1].

During the study, it was found that the average caloric intake for a meal was 716 calories for men and 609 calories for women. When women ate with men, they consumed 552 calories, but when eating with other women, the women consumed 665 calories – more than they would’ve consumed eating on their own. When a woman eats in a mixed group, she also eats less than when eating with only other women. Young explains, “As soon as there is a man in the mix, the amount of calories a woman eats decreases” [1].

How many women is too many? When three women dine together, they intake an average of 650 calories. When a fourth woman is added – the damage goes up to 800 calories a piece. Wowza!

The logic? Sarah-Jeanne Salvy, PhD and assistant professor of pediatrics at the State University of New York at Buffalo explains that people often manipulate the amount of food they eat to “convey a positive impression.” She goes on to say that “eating like someone else would be integrating yourself” while women eating in front of men commonly consume less in order to appear more feminine and in control [1].

Similarly, Salvy found that overweight children who eat in the presence of their overweight friends eat more than those who eat with someone they don’t know. Does it have to be an overweight friend that’s making us eat more? Nope. Salvy found that whether it be a friend or a complete stranger, the fact that their company was overweight was enough drive for the individual to consume more [1]. Subconsciously, of course.

Just something to be aware of…but you may want to eat in a closet just in case!

[1]. Doheny, Kathleen. Ladies’ Night Out A Diet Wrecker. WebMD Health News. August 5, 2009.

Breakfast done right!

While an overwhelming 90% of Americans think breakfast is the most important meal of the day, fewer than half consume breakfast on a regular basis, according to the Food Information Council. Breakfast is not only important…but unique...it sets the tone for the entire day – be it for the better or the worse [1].

There’s no “perfect” meal, as everyone has different nutritional needs. However, a good breakfast starts with a “moderate meal of mixed foods,” says Richard Mattes, a professor of food and nutrition at Purdue University [1]. What does THAT mean? Keep reading.

WORST: No breakfast at all. Not hungry in the morning? This makes sense. Your body slows down its metabolism throughout the night due to the prolonged fast. If you’re sleeping 8-9 hours like we all should, your body is going a long while without food, especially since we typically don’t eat LAST thing at night and FIRST thing in the morning. Those who skip breakfast are more likely to be over-weight and eat more calories and fat throughout the day says Susan Biali, a physician specializing in dietetics. If you’re one of those people that claims eating breakfast makes you hungrier throughout the day, you’re probably starting off your day with too much sugar. If it’s a choice between nothing or something bad (i.e. a donut)…go with the donut and limit it to one [1].

BAD: Coffee or tea only. Hydration and caffeine – not enough. You’ll likely end up over-consuming at lunch when you’re famished [1]. A simple piece of fruit in the mornings would go great with your hot liquids, don’t you think?

(Pretty) BAD: Coffee/tea + a donut = quick, easy, and yummy. The 90-minute boost will leave you crashing into sleep-mode before mid-morning has even hit. Same goes for sugary cereals and bagels. Such foods high in “simple sugars” cause your blood sugar to both rise and fall too quickly, leaving you needing more. Think juice is a great option? Wrong. Physician John LaPuma says, “Think of juices as desserts because ‘their sugar content hypes up your insulin level and craving for a real, gut-filling food'” [1].

BETTER: A bowl of low-sugar, high-fiber cereal with non-fat or low-far milk, banana, and whole wheat toast with jam and coffee. Look for cereals containing at least 3 grams of fiber and 10 grams of sugar or less per serving. Cheerios, Kashi GoLean, All Bran, or Fiber One are great options. If your cereal has a mascot, leave it on the shelf at the stores. Tony the Tiger provides you nothing GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREAT!

BEST: A hard-boiled egg and a bowl of slow-cooking oatmeal topped with berries, walnuts, raisins, flax seeds or sunflower seeds with coffee or tea. THIS meal is a nutritional powerhouse and easy to do as you can prepare the oatmeal and egg ahead of time and have on-hand. The high-fiber / high-protein make-up of the meal help regulate blood sugar, and are much more satisfying during a long morning of work. The flax seed and walnuts provide heart-healthy omega-3’s which are shown to reduce LDL-cholesterol (the bad kind), and also reduce inflammation and the risk of heart disease. You can also add a slice of whole-grain toast with peanut butter or avocado for added healthy fats [1].

And how about Sunday brunch? Timothy Harlan, a professor of medicine at Tulane University School of Medicine says that a weekend "binge" isn’t likely going to have huge negative effects. He goes on to explain, “Eating healthy is all about balance. Sure, you can eat perfectly 21 meals a week and be healthier, but at what price? Having a large, friendly meal works for all of us on a social level that transcends the perfect diet. It’s the same with eating out.” Splurging on a meal every now and then is nothing to lose sleep over. Besides, the very term “brunch” translates into just 2 meals being consumed. Even if your brunch choices aren’t the best, you have one less meal contributing calories to your daily totals [1]. Sure sounds like Mr. Timothy is an "80-20" advocate in his own way, don't you think? ; )

Side note: I feel WAY better about the Sunday brunch Mark and I had with our friend Lena last weekend. It was DELICIOUS…and it did include a salad, for the record!

[1]. Deardorff, Julie. How To Eat Breakfast. Chicago Tribune. August 2, 2009.

Denny's Downer

If you enjoy a good'ole Denny's breakfast anything like my family -- brace yourself. In keeping with yesterday's topic of sodium...turns out, Panera may not be a leading offender.

A consumer activist group in New Jersey sued Denny's Corporation this week because of the "dangerously high" levels of sodium found in their meals. As previously discussed, the recommended daily allowance for sodium is 1,500 milligrams for a hypertensive individual, and up to 2,300 milligrams for a healthy individual (some sources stick with 1,500 mg for all). Some menu items at Denny's more than double Panera's worst offender with nearly 6,000 milligrams of sodium. *blink*

As for the health implications of such foods, we know that diets high in sodium are major causes for hypertension, which is associated with heart disease and stroke -- two of the leading causes of death. The Executive Director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Michael Jacobson, is quoted in saying, "For those Americans who should be most careful about limiting their sodium, such as people middle-aged and older, African-Americans, or people with existing high blood pressure, it's dangerous to eat at Denny's. Denny's customers deserve to be warned about the considerable health risks posed by many of these meals" [1].

As for Denny's...they have no comments at this time (duh).

It'll break my brother's heart to hear that the Denny's Meat Lover's Scramble which contains two eggs with chopped bacon, diced ham, crumbled sausage, cheese plus two bacon strips, two sausage links, hash browns, and two pancakes weighs in at an astonishing 5,690 milligrams of sodium -- a scary 379% of the recommended daily allowance [1].

But the bleeding doesn't end there. A Denny's Spicy Buffalo Chicken Melt with seasoned fries will provide 4,880 milligrams of sodium while an added bowl of Denny's Clam Chowder would together boast a staggering 6,700 milligrams of sodium for the meal - an amount that should be consumed over the course of 4 1/2 DAYS. Medically speaking, the body has a difficult time ridding of that amount of sodium and excess sodium in the body can lead to fluid retention and accumulation in the lungs, presenting potentially severe medical consequences over time [2].

And, it doesn't stop there. EVEN the smaller meals advertised specifically for children and seniors contain sodium in excess of the daily recommended intake [2]. Scary, isn't it? Dr. Stephen Havas of Northwestern University explains high sodium intake to be one of the nation's top health threats. He goes on to share that by reducing 50% of the sodium content in packaged and restaurant foods, there would be 150,000 saved lives each year. If that's not evidence enough for change, I don't know what is.

Beware of Denny's! Though my hypertensive father doesn't read blogs, this one will be printed and snail mailed to Chicago. While I know my parents look forward to retirement and "Lumberjack Slams" (850 calories and 3180 milligrams of sodium), the Food Police, as I'm so lovingly referred to, says "NO!" to Denny's. Back to the kitchen, Maaaaaaaaaaaaa... also known as Jan's Bar and Grill.

[1]. Activist Group Sues Denny's Over Sodium Levels. Reuters UK. July 23, 2009.
[2]. Unsafe Sodium Levels at Denny's Prompt Class Action Lawsuit. CSPI Newsroom. July 2009.