European eating vs American eating

As an epicurean, when finances allow so, I enjoy dining at fine European-style restaurants. The top-notch quality of the food is SO evident in the taste. Lately, tons of research has been published on the benefits of a Mediterranean diet. In fact, a recent study conducted by Harvard researchers found that a Mediterranean diet is MORE effective for weight loss and cholesterol and triyglyceride reduction than a standard low-fat diet. WOW!

I recently read a poem about a Mediterranean meal, written by the USA's 15th Poet Laureate, Charles Simic and I was moved. Years ago, I wrote a poem about the American diet. I dug it up today and reworked it a little bit. See for yourselves the difference between the two diets. Which would you rather feed your body, mind, and soul?

The Mediterranen Diet as told in
The Invitation
By Charles Simic

We are going to serve a late lunch
For a few close friends in the garden.
We'll start with a cold squid salad,
A pot of black and green olives,
And a loaf of homemade bread to wipe
The garlic and the oil off our plates.
Between the sips of the yellow wine.

And if some bird graciously assents
To sing for us after the grilled lamb,
The cheeses and the wild blueberries,
We'll raise our glasses and toast
The golden light between the leaves,
The shadows on the lawn lengthening.
And keep them raised till the song is over.

The American diet as told in
Gas Station Goodies
By Shannon Martin Morehouse

Snacks, Soda, Beer, Candy, Coffee!

Premium American Happiness!

Chew on a Slim Jim

Slurp-Up a 32-ounce Pepsi

Indulge in a Hostess Cherry Pie

Don’t forget those Skittles

or Smarties.

Yum-

Solidified Corn Syrup!

Grab some Dorritos

or Ruffles Cheddar Cheese

potato chips.

Don’t forget the

sour cream and chives

canned dip.

What good are chips

without dip?

And mmmm all these things

contain monosodium-glutamate

the headache-creating tasty additive.

Can’t live without that!

How ‘bout a Snapple,

the best stuff on earth!

Peach-flavored tea,

again, gotta love

that main ingredient,

High Fructose Corn Syrup!

Yum!

Make room for Cheetos,

3 Musketeers,

Hawaiian Fruit Punch

and remember a chili

dog for your lunch.

Oh!

Grab some Michelob

for only $3.99!

What a deal!

Can’t go wrong!

You’re getting tired

are you?

Oh, then you gotta get

the French Vanilla Cappuccino,

gas station style,

so sweet,

but hey, why not add

four sugars

and some flavored creamers

with the partially hydrogenated oils and all,

it’s free!

You’re good to go!

But don’t forget to pay for your

oh-so-cheap

gas

along with you

snackssodabeercandycoffee.

Now, don't get me wrong The Invitation meal would not be healthy if consumed daily, but it sure the heck beats the processed junk we thrive on here in the USA. What I admire about Simic is how he marries the concepts of nature and fine, natural homemade cooking together. We're meant to collaborate with nature in our lives, not destroy it or defeat it, or out-do it, which is exactly what processed food attempts to do. So, please, find time this week to make a homemade meal and nourish yourself!!!

As for me, it's my goal to do this DAILY!

All for now folks! And I'm sure you'll see more of Charles SImic in my blog. I will get to hear him speak at the Geraldine Dodge Poetry Festival, which I've been attending now for six years!