I LOVE FOOD

By Victor Cipranio

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I love food with all my heart. I love the taste of it, the smell of it, the look of it, and the feel of it. I love the social, sensual and solitary pleasures that surround the eating of it. I love food more than I love opera or Frank Sinatra. My wife and kids are the only things I love more than food.

What is better than a good lavish home-cooked Roman feast with good friends or family--the more often the better? What’s better than candle-lit dinners for two or mini-buffets of tasty finger food in the bedroom or the hot tub? Or what about the simple pleasures of having a taste for something, cooking it up or ordering it in and pigging out alone--with your favorite music playing or a ball game on the TV?

I agree with the Cathy Kantony that being slim, trim and fit can improve your self-image and self-esteem (sometimes) often leading to a more enjoyable social life, but doesn't that depend on how much you love jogging, eating unsalted pretzels and drinking fresh spring water, as opposed to a good traditional Italian meal with antipasto, primo or first course of meat sauce over pasta or rice, secondo or second course of a couple of kinds of meat or fish and vegetable, and dessert.

Thin people often seem hyper to me--tense, nervous, high-strung, working at relaxing rather than really sloughing-out. Longevity is a worthy goal, and I'm all for it; for Christ's sake my grandmother is 92 years old already. But is a long life devoted to raw veggies, whole grains and tofu better than a slightly shorter life full of sumptuous entrees and luscious deserts served around a well-laid table, enveloped in the laughter of friends and family? Does it compensate for lovers' buffets with the wife in the hot tub, or a lot of great 8-topping pizzas with extra cheese while watching the White Sox on TV?

I support wellness and I love this web site, especially for the sensibleness and balance that allows me to express these views. I get my Soul Vibration in each morning's e-mail. This morning mine said, in part: "Love isn't used up just because it's shared with many." So, I add a little to that: "around a generously boarded table of wonderful food and fine wine."

I believe that your body talks to you and that it will call out if there are wellness matters that should be attended to. Until then I think that a person should listen to his or her taste buds as closely as to a diet plan for healthy, happy living.

I have no reason to doubt that America is the most overweight nation in the "developed world," but obesity and the fitness craze both could be symptoms of national greed--eat more because bounty is all around you, stay slim and fit so you can get more bounty--it's the same thing.

I totally support the idea of an active lifestyle, but active how? Mountain-biking? Give me a break. I do try to eat right and I agree that 220 pounds is a little too heavy for a five-foot-eleven inch man in his early 50s. I'm going to try. My wife is trying to help. She said she'd take me on one of these weight-loss cruises, but I told her that if I get too hungry I might throw a line overboard and see if I can catch a fish.

My reason for wanting to lose weight is so that I can eat more. As well as your taste buds I think you should listen to your traditions. What kind of Italian would I be if I did not honor the place of "manga, manga" in my tradition? Isn't your culture a vital part of your soul?

Okay, Okay, now that this web site has let me get my steam off, I'll compromise. I'll compromise. It's the wife--she says that even the Olive Garden has a low-calorie menu. "The Olive Garden," I object, "is not real Italian. When they get a low-fat menu at Carmine's, then I'll give up my fight."

Then she goes on the web and downloads this thing from the University of Pennsylvania health system--balsamic vinegar on your salad, no antipasto with marinated vegetables, light on sausages and meats such as prosciutto ham. My mother would kill me if I came to her house with my college education and said no sausages. Are you kidding me? Forget about it!

No high-fat cream sauces such as Alfredo or Carbonara. Mama Mia! "Avoid dishes that have been breaded and fried, such as eggplant or veal parmigiana. Steer clear of entrees prepared with a lot of cheese, which can be very high in fat. Ask that your entree be prepared without oil," it says. I can't take it.

I go down to my job. For Christ's sake--give me a little help over here. I tell this black guy my problem and he says he flavors his greens not with ham hock but smoked turkey. He doesn't barbecue ribs. He barbecues chicken and fish, green pea salad instead of potato salad. I say: "A fine friend you are, pal. Thanks a lot."

All day long he's going, "Victor, what's wrong? What did I say wrong?"

"Al, forget about it."

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