HEALTH BEAT 8-1-2002

Meetings & Conventions: Short Cuts August 2002 Current Issue
August 2002
Short Cuts:
HEALTH BEAT

Fattening Up for Flight?

For those who spend a lot of time on the road, airport food courts are as natural a place to grab a bite as their own kitchens. But those quick meals or snacks can be a dieter’s worst enemy.

In Restaurant Confidential (Workman Publishing; www.workman.com), authors Michael F. Jacobson and Jayne Hurley enlighten diners about what it means to the waistline when they pick up a burger and fries for a long flight or a blended coffee drink to stay alert during a layover.

The book provides calorie, fat and saturated fat breakdowns for common fast-food and restaurant items. Among the better choices: Blimpie’s Veggie Max sandwich contains 400 calories, and McDonalds’ fruit and yogurt parfait has only 380 calories not a bad way to indulge a sweet tooth.

On the other hand, some meals pack enough calories to make those airplane seats feel even more snug. Burger King’s double Whopper with cheese, plus a large order of fries and soda, tips the scales at 2,050 calories astounding given that most people need only 2,000 to 2,500 calories per day.

• MARTHA COOKE