It’s the salt of the earth but do you watch how much is too much?
Seems like Monday mornings are a good time for scientists and others to come out with the dire stories warning of the danger that lurks in your phone, your car, your clothes or in a big favorite, your diet.
This time, though, everyone will nod their head knowing how true it is. The Center for Science in the Public Interest is pointing out restaurant chain food with dangerously high levels of sodium. 
For example, you’ll want to avoid Chili’s Buffalo Chicken Fajitas (with tortillas and condiments) and a Dr Pepper: 6,916 mg, which is more than FOUR DAYS worth of sodium. The report lists some other meals and other chains, too, with super-salty menu items. Olive Garden is an offender, and Chili’s has more than one item on the list.
When you hear news like this, does it make you change your eating habits? Or is it just another alarm being sounded by scientists who have already warned us of the dangers of peanut butter, eggs, alcohol, etc. Better yet, is there a food out there you know is way too salty and bad for you — but you eat it anyway? (I confess: salt and vinegar potato chips. Deliciously bad for me, but I put serious limits on my intake.)
Salt and sugar, the taste enhancers of Fast Food Nation. Just place a skull and crossbones next to each menu item and be done with it.
It amazes me the sodium content in the “healthy dishes” at restaurants such as olive garden, and particularly macaroni grill. Most “health” foods such as these, as in the supermarket have a disclaimer to check the nutritional content guide for sodium content…meaning not “healthy”.
I have limited my salt intake for years, as much as possible. I was raised in a typical Southern family in which everything edible was salted this side of your morning corn flakes — and they might be. It took me years to break the habit. Today it’s amazing how much better food tastes when it isn’t buried in salt. I have to brush the salt off grocery store-bought tortilla and potato chips because I can’t take the salt. (BTW - Trader Joe’s “On the Border” tortilla chips are the best - much less salty than Doritos or other common offerings.) Of course, anything pre-packaged, bagged or canned is loaded with sodium as a preservative, but from what I’ve gathered this is done in tremendous excess and could be drastically cut back.
Now, especially with the gloomy statistics on the health hazards involved, perhaps restaurants will start getting the message and cut it out with the salt on everything. Please, restaurant owners, if you’re out there listening……
We don’t eat at generic chain restaurants very often, there are too many places to go that are unique to the area to waste a night out at somewhere like Chili’s. The food is usually blah, the beer selection sucks, and there are 8000 people standing around in the lobby because for some reason, St. Louisans think that Casa Gallardo is good Mexican food. And when we do go out to eat, we don’t eat like cows, so I won’t be changing any eating habits due to news like this.
b,
I agree. Most of the restaurants out there are simply serving up garbage for the masses. And they are too stupid to know better. Even salt and sugar are OK for you IN MODERATION.
Most of the “Talk of the Day” topics are mostly, if not completely, lame.
Most of all, please don’t feel compelled to respond to the Talk of the Day if you’re not interested. Some topics are bigger than others; we aim for a mix.
Have a super Monday!
I guess I’m lucky. My mother didn’t cook with much salt so I don’t like it much. I’m in my upper 50’s now and have never used salt in excess. These warnings that come out don’t have much effect on what I do. At my age, I have seen them flip flop back and forth so much. Give it time and someone will come out with something that say’s otherwise. It’s wise to know what you are putting in your body. The only way to control that is cook it yourself.
…and while we’re at it, “Most of all,” you can also stop with the left-handed slurs to gay people, if you’re above the age of 12. Amanda, where is your “Delete” button?
Boyd, good point. I meant to change that and forgot; my apologies. It’s changed now