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H U M A N I T I E S
A N D T H E A R T S
The ABC's of the RDA
Author's Notebook
By Melissa Hendricks
While having lunch recently with Hopkins' nutrition expert
Benjamin Caballero, I queried the doctor about his personal food
preferences. To my surprise, Caballero had toyed with the idea of
ordering the pig's feet featured on the menu that day at the
Johns Hopkins Hospital's Doctor's Dining Room. But he settled on
the roast pork. Isn't pork loaded with fat, I asked. Caballero
shook his head. Although, pound for pound, the pig has more fat
than the cow, its fat and muscle tissues are generally in
separate regions, while in the cow, fat and muscle intermingle
(think of a marbled steak). So it is fairly easy to find a lean
piece of pork.
Oh yes, said Caballero. There's one more thing about food. Many
Americans are so preoccupied with calories, fat, cholesterol,
calcium content, etc., that they overlook the most important
thing about food: enjoying it. Relaxing, savoring tastes, and
socializing during mealtimes, as well as getting adequate
nutrients, benefits health. But for many people (Caballero
included) mealtimes become just another timeslot for cramming in
a meeting or lecture.
RETURN TO
APRIL 1998 TABLE OF CONTENTS.
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