Fast food
"Bill, you're not really going to eat that are you?" Carter yells as I begin to check-out at Costco. I scan my rotisserie chicken in the self-help aisle and smile as Carter approaches, "You bet I am!"
Carter shakes his head, "You write a column on eating well. I'm going to write The Press and tell people what you really eat." We swap handshakes, backslaps and smiles as I complete my sale and say goodbye.
Carter and I have been friends 14 years and razz each other every opportunity we get. He was an extremely popular chef at North Idaho College when I inherited the Food Service Director position there and we grew culinarily, professionally, intrinsically and personally together. We golf together - although not enough - have shared many meals together and swap stories of grandchildren and cats. Our conversation of food, healthy eating and the culinary arts molds me into the diner I am today.
Carter is not the only person who pays attention to what I eat. A trip to the grocery store proves difficult when one writes about food. I search the aisles for delicious nutrients, fill my cart and usually visit with many friends I meet while shopping. I often notice their eyes glance toward my cart as I casually look away in search of my bounty. As I make eye contact again, they quickly look up, as if embarrassed by their southern glance. I casually ask, "What are you having for dinner?" The conversation now enters an inventory of what is nutritious, healthy, tasteful or difficult to prepare. I don't care. For me, a kosher hotdog on a quality bun satisfies as much as coq au vin prepared in the traditional style.
Carter's decree of my unhealthy eating makes me think. Is rotisserie chicken unhealthy? Am I a fraud? Do I preach a lifestyle which is contrary to my behavior? The answer is; sometimes yes, most of the time, no.
The Fraud
I enjoy fried chicken when traveling in the South and eat Popeye's fried chicken as often as possible. I would never have thought to eat at Popeye's except for an unexpected, convincing suggestion by a local who really knows good food.
I often bypass quick service restaurants and never eat fast-food but while spending a week in New Orleans on business, I ask the concierge where to go for authentic Southern food? He leans over the counter, looks right then left and whispers in my ear, Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen.
Expecting the typical suggestions like K-Paul's or Brennan's I do my first-ever actual double-take, wiggling my head quickly right to left and say in surprise, "Popeye's?" The concierge nods confidently and I am off. I order a three piece, red beans and rice, a biscuit and a sweeeet tea (yes, it is spelled with four e's), settle into my hard plastic seat and enjoy the most satisfying meal ever enjoyed.
Fried food is usually off-limits to me. Having high cholesterol and working hard to maintain a healthy weight, I usually choose low fat, colorful food to consume and work hard to eat a diet that promotes long-term health. But, sometimes I need fried chicken to satisfy my soul which brings me back to Carter. Carter talks about food with passion. He loves the way food smells, looks, loves to learn about new food and cooks with fervor. Due to my admiration and respect for Carter, I offer my process of consuming the fat-laden chicken from Costco in a healthy way.
The Passionately Healthy Chef
What do I do with the rotisserie chicken purchased on Monday? Do I eat the chicken whole and enjoy the heavily seasoned skin full of fat and flavor, or do I discard the skin in favor of the protein which sustains my health, and use culinary skill to feed my body during this week? I'm sure you know where this discussion is headed?
• The first night
• I debone and de-skin the chicken and use the bones to make a stock with a mirepoix of celery, onions and carrots.
• I prepare a chicken noodle soup using the fresh stock, root vegetables and the chicken thigh meat.
• I then prepare homemade egg noodles and add them to the stock making a delicious soup.
• The second night
• I decide on chicken tacos.
• The breast meat is shredded and placed in a toasted tortilla with lettuce, tomatoes, homemade yogurt, salsa from this past summer's garden and cilantro with a squeeze of lime juice.
• The third night
• I pour hot sauce on the wings and legs and devour them while enjoying a beer while watching the NBA.
One chicken; three nights of nutritious, flavorful food. Life is good and I'm still healthy!
Bill Rutherford is a psychotherapist, public speaker, elementary school counselor, adjunct college psychology instructor and executive chef, and owner of Rutherford Education Group. Please email him at bprutherford@hotmail.com.