FAMILY MATTERS
Life is a bowl of broccoli when you're seeking good health

By Michael C. DeMattos

Like most people my age, the measures I use to gauge a happy, healthful life have changed over the years. In fact, it seems that my current life is a circus mirror reflection of the years before.

Let's look at sleep as an example. I used to get to bed at about 1 or 2 in the morning, which was actually late, but I considered it early. Now, when I get to bed at 11 p.m., which is actually early, I consider it late. If I don't get a solid eight hours of sleep, I feel deprived and nocturnally shortchanged.

I am older and wiser now. I ride a stationary bike, manage my time and my stress levels, and I watch what I eat. Well ... I TRY to watch what I eat.

And so two weeks ago, I found myself sitting across from my doctor, who was scanning the results from my latest blood test.

"Mike, we need to get your low-density lipoprotein level down a few more points. We need it below 100."

"My low-lipo-what?" I asked, sure that he had just sworn at me.

"Your LDL," he said. "At your age and with your history, we have to keep your 'bad cholesterol' in check."

He was right, and I knew it. The problem is that every time I think low cholesterol, I have nightmarish visions of veggie burgers and broccoli.

Later that night, as I sat down for dinner, I could still hear the voice of my doctor waxing profoundly about the virtues of a low-cholesterol, low-fat diet. As fate would have it, my wife made us Gardenburgers smothered with sautéed mushrooms and onions. A glass of wine and a small green salad complete with broccoli spears rounded out the meal. My nightmare had become reality.

It had been a long time since I resorted to guerrilla tactics, and I am somewhat embarrassed to share what happened next.

In a split second, I ran to the fridge and got a nice tall glass of ice water. After every bite, I chewed twice, sipped some water and swallowed each nibble like a pill.

With every gulp, I had a flashback. I remembered all the foods I hated as a child, all the foods that were supposed to be good for me: cooked beets, ketchup-covered liver and creamed corn, to name a few.

Then a funny thing happened.

I accidentally tasted the burger. At first I panicked, but then realized it wasn't so bad. Don't get me wrong, it didn't taste anything like a good old-fashioned greaseburger, but it did have a nice texture and a bit of flavor.

As the meal progressed, my pain turned into pleasure, and I sat contented.

I was a man transformed. I finished the burger and the wine and, for perhaps the first time, saw light at the end of the low-cholesterol tunnel.

I could eat healthily without sacrificing taste.

Then I had a brilliant thought: I bet this veggie burger would go great with a basket of fries.

Family therapist Michael C. DeMattos has a master's degree in social work.