Breakfast? Well, if I can work some in after going to the gym, maybe blueberries and some low-fat yogurt. Same for you, right?
My healthful intentions are spurred by headlines yesterday about modest good news on the obesity front — except in Arkansas.
A new study showed that, for the first time in 30 years, the nation’s obesity rate held steady in every state — except Arkansas. We edged closer to Louisiana and Mississippi as the most obese state, with 34.5 percent at that level in 2012, up significantly from 30.9 in 2011.
I’m happy to say that my own roller coaster ran against the trend in 2012. But every day is a new day. And it’s not easy when you read the deliciously coincidental news in the Democrat-Gazette this morning about the coming midway lineup at the Arkansas State Fair.
After the obesity news on 1A came the story on 1B about the coming State Fair and the usual food lineup come-ons — fried banana splits, fried pineapple upsidedown cake, chicken and waffles, gravy fries, pork chop sundaes, the “deep-fried hog,” a 1.5-pound fried pork chop on a stick, cheese balls, burgers on Krispy Kreme donuts, fried mashed potatoes and deep-fried hot dogs on a bun.
The showstopper, however, will be the megaburger, a confection featured in television advertisements that will hit the airwaves shortly, Lyons said. The creation includes four hamburger patties totaling two pounds of meat, topped with four slices of bacon, chili, five slices of cheese and fried onion rings. Lyons said the meal weighs in at about 3 pounds.