Burger King's Escoveitch Fish and Bammy breakfast. - Photo By Rosemary Parkinson ONE OF the many negative researches on the ever-climbing popularity of fast foods begins by saying "Multinational and domestic food companies that promote energy-dense and low-nutrient foods and drinks use highly effective marketing techniques to encourage regular consumption, repeat purchases and brand loyalty especially amongst children collectibles, toys, games, contests, advertising and packing featuring cartoon characters TV advertising with catchy jingles " I have never hidden my 'dissatisfaction' with these practices a reason I do not often visit those who really make a 'B' Hollywood movie out of eating.
NEW RESEARCH
Much new research claims that fast foods may not be as bad as we think (notwithstanding that American 'whale-of-a-man' that sued one of them blaming them for his inability to get through his front door!). My Editor, before she left for the shores of England on a most needed holiday, ordered "Go back and take another look at fast foods there are some new products, let's get into the health issues".
When your 'boss' says, your 'boss' says and I have to admit she very seldom 'says' and pretty much leaves me up to my own shenanigans, so I owe her though thoughts of her eating of the finest in a country that went from 'boiled-everything' to a veritable cornucopia of 'haute' cuisine did not have me pleased especially as I was left behind, forced to taste all manner of burgers, chicken, sizzlers, zingers, clingers (and God
knows what else) from wrapped packages and containers whilst children looked at me in awe grabbing their mothers' skirts, yelling loudly, pointing and demanding similar portions my only reason for being inside the abandonment of exasperated attempts to use the horrid Drive-In-Hells. Those muffled voices, the crazy answering of 64,000 unintelligible questions, the long wait behind honking horns; then payment and finally food are to say the least mind-boggling whilst one boils to death trapped in an overheated car!
Then there was the Internet hours upon hours another annoying so-called modern
encyclopaedia I would have done better to go to a library and read up the research.
COUNTING CALORIES
Some research claims fast food gets a bad rap. It just depends how and what you eat, say the experts. Calories or carbohydrate grams (depending on your diet) require counting. If you are just maintaining weight remember a woman requires 2,000
calories and a man 2,700 a day. Inform yourself. You can
download individual content charts from The Fast Food Nutrition Explorer walk with them when indulging and you can eat more or less 'healthy'.
I now know, for instance Kentucky's Breaded Chicken Leg carries approximately 140 calories, whilst the Extra Crispy increases that to 250. Their Mashed Potatoes with Gravy is a mere 120 calories, whilst their Coleslaw comes in at 232. A Broiled or Grilled Chicken Sandwich without condiments from Burger King could pack in 267 calories and a small Chilli at Wendy's is worth 210, or a large one, 310. On and on goes the calorie games. Sections on content had me appalled, finding high amounts of sodium in everything. I immediately went on a sodium searching tangent. "Just recently," said one very 'learned' person "the results of a major 10-year study were released vindicating sodium as the unhealthy mineral. Don't be afraid to use salt liberally." Wow. Great news for me I love salt but then the next research knocks all that.
WHICH ONE TO BELIEVE?
Hello Tomatoes are healthy and then disastrous. Cabbage retains too much insecticide lettuce should be slightly worm eaten. Onions cause indigestion. On and on it goes.
From Fast Food Restaurants to produce, meats, condiments, foods even good hearty
childhood 'musts' like Campbell's Soups receiving lashings for something or the other. So, hey! What's the deal here? Let me off this planet for the only pure healthy victual must be Manna from Heaven!
INTERESTING COMBOS AND HEALTHY BREAKFASTS
Anyhow, I have concluded
my Fast Food review quite alive but with one thought imbedded firmly on my mind "A moment on one's lips could be forever on one's hips". End of story.
MOTHER'S
Mother's Santa Cruz deserves lots of attention as always. Fabulous Jerk Chicken and Fish (this is how I expect Jerk to taste the traditional way). That taste of pimento and spices is just a marvel to the palate. Good festivals. Absolutely delish patty meals beef or chicken with cheese and salad. Certainly a lot healthier than putting a patty in a coco bread! The new local
breakfasts are also worth the money and I just love their potato salad and coleslaw fresh and tasty. So happy to see Diet Pepsi now available. By the way an obvious tip when eating Fast Foods leave out the sodas and drink water!
BURGER KING
THE GRILLED CHICKEN WRAP
Burger King the Grilled Chicken Wrap was delicious. However it was 'chopped' in about four pieces (like Pan-Jerk Chicken) everything oozing out of the wrap. Is this normal? Or is it just your Negril branch fashion? Non-breaded chicken makes this a well-rounded tasty meal. The Escoveitch Fish I could taste the fish but the garnish of two rings of 'boiled-down' onions did nothing to convince me this was a famous Jamaican dish. By the way, one research says there's no 'healthy' fast food fish unless grilled. Fish takes in too much oil when deep fried. Okay then. I really saw nothing else on the menu that could be considered a 'healthy' meal, maybe the Whoppers (taste is good) and they claim it's 100 per cent ground beef just leave out condiments, fries and order a Diet Coke or water.
KENTUCKY
Kentucky Sav-la-Mar what can I say? The Twister was dry although packed beautifully for easy munching the healthiness ruined by breaded chicken. The United Kingdom KFC Website claims "You should always try to choose the lower fat options such as pure chicken breast meat (as served at your nearest KFC)" but the researcher claims chicken breast meat which is typically four per cent fat by weight becomes four times as much fat with the KFC coating. A shame. I actually like the popcorn chicken but again healthy it's not, packing a fair set of calories even without the dip.
I do believe the most unhealthy of all is that huge Zinger Combo Dear God! Only an elephant could eat that. Tasty it is I have to say a deal it is I will also admit but, hello if you're thinking health you have to remove all dat breaded chicken and condiments eating only the sesame bread, lettuce and tomato. What is really great about Kentucky? The corn. The biscuits. Hmm Hmm Good!
MCDONALD'S
McDonald's, Ironshore, MoBay. Chris, the manager on duty, was kind enough to let me have a Jerk Burger and a Fajita (thank you, sir) very early one morning during breakfast time this review was due in a couple of hours and time was of the essence. Unfortunately, McDonald's Fajita gets a thumbs down, the chewy outer wrap, the processed cheese and other tasteless ingredients did nothing for me. My guest, Detective Cognac from Los Angeles (a Food Critic for the Lost Angeles Breeze) had the Jerk Burger he liked the taste me? I thought there was some semblance of jerk but it was lost in the typical McDonald's Beef Patty that tastes and looks like compressed cardboard. Where's the beef? That juicy 100 per cent Jamaican Beef? Also tasted their sausage patty one bite. No comment. Sorry you have to get with it and keep up with your competitors Mr. McD.
CHURCHES CHICKEN
Churches on Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston. Sorry I cannot even begin to tell de truth here. Not a another visit from me and that's a promise. Everything I ordered looked white and soggy. No Sah. Not good enough at all, at all. Try your best and start again, do.
A friend and adopted mother crossed over. She has chosen this experience of Communion with God. She will finally know peace and joy unbounded, and love fully expressed, and full freedom. Enid Thwaites, I know, will continue to read The Gleaner headlines daily.
