Condiment Watch, Mat Money, and Fast-Food Fault
Be careful with condiments, yoga mats still sell, and the drive-thru takes blame.
How’s Your Burger?
Credit: Leonid Mamchenkov
Whether at the ballpark or grilling out in your backyard, you’re not just deciding between burgers, brats or hot dogs. You’re also deciding what you’re going to put atop your grilled deliciousness. You might not think a tablespoon of ketchup here or a dollop of mayonnaise there makes a difference, but that can be a 75-calorie difference. Lucky for you, most condiments do have some sort of nutritional value, so you can get some lycopene from ketchup and omega-3s from mustard.
Check out the hidden dangers of those extras, as well as their health benefits and some healthful alternatives. My fave: subbing avocado for mayo. Yum! And as always, mind your portions.
A Cushiony Splurge
Credit: Kerrie Longo.
The unemployment rate is down, and the economy is still wonky. Sales are down everywhere from here to Timbuktu. And while you’d expect some businesses to benefit from a recession—fast-food restaurants, for example—one pricey item has swam upstream against the recession current. Pricey yoga mats in the $100 range are beating the downturn, with skyrocketing sales. But why are people buying up these non-necessities in lean times? It could be because of the increased popularity of yoga or the demographics of the yoga set. It could also be that the buyers see it as a useful item with health benefits, not a frivolity. I’ll admit that pricey yoga mats are cute, but I don’t think I’m ready to shell out that much dough quite yet.
Credit: ebruli
No surprise here: When Americans are forced to point fingers of blame when it comes to the obesity epidemic, many are pointing their digits at the fast-food industry. In a recent poll, 57 percent of Americans felt that fast food was responsible for the increase in diet-related diseases and health conditions. A quarter of those polled found that fast food was detrimental to their nutrition and health. Mapping projects have shown the proximity of restaurants to schools, and the Value [The] Meal campaign is trying to prevent McDonald’s from zoning restaurants near schools and to stop marketing fast food to children.
Fast-food nation.