Go Ahead, You CAN Eat That Fried Chicken

Last week I wrote that avoiding grains, rice, sugar and potatoes is one of the keys to healthy eating. These foods are what I call the Deadly Whites.

So, am I saying that you should restrict yourself exclusively to grilled meat and vegetables?  Not really.  I recommend the 80/20 rule, which means that if you make good food choices 80% of the time your body should be able to handle bad food choices the other 20% of the time.  So, if you eat three times per day then you will eat 21 times in a week.  If in that week you eat 17 good meals, your body can handle 4 questionable meals.

Now, that does not mean that you can eat chocolate sandwiches with mashed potatoes 4 times a week!  But using the above information to your benefit, you can have comfort food.  Don't eat all four of the Deadly Whites at the same time or even on the same day.  That rules out pancakes, syrup, hash browns and Rice Krispies for Saturday breakfast, but you can have the pancakes and syrup! And Sunday afternoon, you can have fried chicken and mashed potatoes!  Then mid-week you could have some ice cream or eat Chinese food and enjoy the rice.

You might say, "Wait, Doc.  Did you say fried chicken?  What about all that grease?"  I'm so glad you asked.  You see, if properly prepared it will not have that much grease infiltrating the meat.  If the oil is hot when the chicken is dropped into it, the heat will immediately sear the breading and seal out the oil.  As the meat heats, the water in it begins to boil and the meat is steamed in its own juices.  The meat must be removed from the oil within 60 seconds of when the steam stops rising from the oil or the oil will infiltrate the meat.  So, if you eat chicken that is dried out and greasy, put it down, walk out the door and never go back!

So, come back next week and learn

How to Get Control of Your Western Appetite