FAMILY MATTERS
Dieting confusion cleared, thanks to child's taste buds
By Michael C. DeMattos
As the years go on, like many nearing mid-life, I have become more aware of my health. I try to exercise, eat healthier meals and relax more. I know it may sound downright un-American, but I try to get home at a reasonable hour to spend time with family and friends as well as enjoy my two main hobbies, fishing and golf.
Fishing and golf are not calorie burners, but they are relaxing, and that seems to be what is most needed in this crazy world of ours. At least it is what I seem to need most.
I was the cursed skinny kid growing up. I couldn't gain weight even if I tried, and I tried. Then I got married. Gaining weight was no longer a problem. My childhood curse? Cured.
Only now I do not want the cure.
Don't get me wrong, I am actually pretty happy with who I am. Despite what the TV advertisers keep telling me, I have no desire to look like Adonis. I just want to stay healthy so that I can enjoy the second half of the show. I have got a lot of life left in me. Thus the exercise, R&R, multivitamins, medication, and improved diet.
To be honest, the exercise and the R&R are pretty simple and the vitamins and meds are a morning ritual. It is the diet that has been problematic.
Eating has gotten so complex. It used to be that all you worried about was too much fat in your diet. Now there are good fats that we need and bad fats that we should avoid. The jury is still out on carbs. Some say that carbohydrates are the bane of the American diet while others say that we eat too much protein. I just couldn't figure the whole thing out, until now.
My confusion lifted last week while out for a holiday dinner with my wife and daughter. I was scouring the menu looking for something healthy and decided to go with the grilled fish and steamed veggies. When my meal arrived, I found that my 'ahi was grilled to medium-rare perfection, but was covered in a thick yellow sauce.
"There is a sauce on my fish," I said aloud to no one in particular. My wife dragged her fork through the yellow sea on my plate and after a quick taste said, "beurre blanc."
"Booree what?" I asked.
"Butter sauce," she announced.
Then my daughter, following Mom's example, reached over with her fork and gave my sauce a sampling.
"Hmm."
She hummed as her eyes rolled back.
"Butter!"
She loved it! Then it dawned on me, my daughter could be my official food tester. It's real simple; if she likes the food, it is most likely bad for me; if she thinks it's yucky, it's probably good for me.
Not very scientific, but I am willing to bet money that it is reliable! A child's palate never lies.
Michael C. DeMattos has a master's degree in social work. He is a family therapist, educator, trainer, storyteller and angler, and lives in Kane'ohe with his wife and 5-year-old daughter. Reach him at: Family Matters, Island Life, The Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; fax 525-8055; or e-mail ohana@honoluluadvertiser.com.
