Obesity Epidemic Explained

How can it be that America is suffering an obesity epidemic?

Cracker Barrel’s latest special offering is “Chicken ’n’ French Toast”. The common conjunction “and” is never spoken at Cracker Barrel. It is always “ ’n’ “.

When I saw a TV commercial for this, I recalled a Group Luncheon from my Air Products days. A co-worker was transferring to greener pastures. As a die-hard “Dutchie”, he insisted that his Farewell Luncheon be held at Laudenslager’s, a remote restaurant that carries on the Great Tradition of Pennsylvania Dutch Cuisine.

The Daily Special was Chicken and Waffles. Who doesn’t like chicken? Who doesn’t like waffles? Most of us ordered the Special.

Bad idea. We got two large lard-fried waffles immersed in thick white gravy with chicken strands swimming therein. Foolishly, I ate it all. The Boss was paying and “If it’s for free, it’s for me.” The fact that it was essentially tasteless like all PA Dutch cuisine didn’t matter.

With extremely full stomachs, several of us nodded off in our cubicles that afternoon. Tryptophan is a bitch.

Cracker Barrel has always offered “Chicken ’n’ Dumplin’s”, thick white gravy with chicken strands over fluffy dumplings (1,200 calories). I imagine a Cracker Barrel executive saying, “America is not getting fat enough. Let’s skip over “Chicken ’n’ Waffles” (1,500 calories) to “Chicken ’n’ French Toast” (1,800 calories). Also, there syrup container is right there on the table. You know that some fools will add even more calories that way.”

The TV commercial does not give a price for “Chicken ’n’ French Toast” but “Chicken ’n’ Dumplin’s” goes for $9.99 with three sides. That’s a lot of calories not to mention cholesterol, sodium, and other crap that’s not good for you for not very much money.

Maybe that is why America is suffering an obesity epidemic.

By Ed Dufton