Is it just me, or is the Polish diet rather unhealthy?

If I am such a lazy Americano who imbibes only processed foods and sodas, then shouldn't I stay at about the same weight wherever I live? All that crap is available in Poland - why aren't I the same weight here, PP? I've counted at least a dozen McDonald's in Kraków...the store aisles here are full of chips, cookies, and Coca Cola...yet I somehow manage to live a healthier life here without a significantly altered lifestyle.

I weigh less when I live in Europe than I do when I live in America - it's a fact, and it has happened twice. Comment on that, why not? And please reread the part of my previous post where I mentioned walking 5-7 km a day every day over the past 8 years before pontificating about exercise...

I am sorry i said that now , but it is true that Americans are geting bigger and bigger , and we in the UK are not far behind in the rush to kill ourselves by stuffing our faces.....Maybe i should start the Wildrover no food weight loss plan and make some money from it....i simply can,t afford to eat lots of food , tho i do like a pitza now and then....

It's really interesting to see where my post has lead to!

I merely posted this thread as someone who is very careful about maintaining a healthy weight, and excercising. I very rarely eat red meat, and always grill my food rather than fry it.

I very rarely eat pizza and junk food (maybe if i over indulge on the vodka!!), cook everything from fresh ingredients, as does my boyfriend. What I questioned was merely the method in which the polish cook - ie fry everything!! and the high fat content of all the extras, and lack of veggies!!

I'm suprised you havent been slated yet by sensitive poles who can't take criticism about anything despite the fact they can never win an argument on food as i think deep down they know their food is bland, greasy and generally vile.

*waits for someone to post "well at least we don't eat fish and chips all the time"*

Preaching to the choir, baby! This is one of my primary reasons for wanting to live in Europe - my weight loss while living in Berlin 4 years ago was a real eye-opener...

A few years back, I learned of a study comparing the nutritional value of french fries from McDonald's restaurants around the world. In it, I remember reading that Denmark's french fries were healthier because their government puts limits on the amount of saturated fat that such establishments can include in their food. The US, of course, has no such limitations. I am all for freedom of choice so loudly espoused by my fellow countrymen, but perhaps the government should act in a similar fashion if it is serious about stemming the tide of obesity in America.

On another note, it is nice to see some retribution here - thanks! Few people on this site have the maturity to take back words they later regret...

Mostly poor people eat at McDonalds in America, have you ever walked into one and seen all the homeless hanging out in there?

I dont go to Mcdonalds but if my only 2 choices were a Cheeseburger or Pierogis drenched with Bacon grease and topped with sour cream.

McDonalds doesnt sound so bad then

Yeah, poverty correlates directly with the obesity epidemic in America.

It seems processed food is cheaper than healthy food in America, but I get the sense that processed food in Poland is the more-expensive option - can this be correct?

BTW, the only time I ever go to McD's is when I am sick - for some reason, a Big Mac tastes so good then :)

Polish food has more cholesterol. Szmalec and bacon grease, kielbasa, pierogi with meat, salceson, jellied pigs feet etc. Poles eat a lot of meat. Poland also has an obesity epidemic but America has more people and you see more of them. Plus it's not the food that makes them fat but the exercise, happens when people drive around in cars instead of walking, anywhere you live. That's why there are many more fat Poles now than ever.

Pass me a bucket...i don,t feel well....

I totally agree!!

When the chinese come to Poland, there won't be any roaming dogs on street and Poles should keep a better eye on their pets. Maybe if they learn how to clean up after them, the chinese won't follow them home by their scent?

But on the plus side....might be a few Chinese takeaways opening up....god i miss being able to phone up and have a meal delivered....

You walk more in Poland than you realize because it's a new place and you are motivated to go out and see more of it. Your activity level increased and you don't drive everywhere, hence your weigh less and are in better physical shape. Simple.

cable

Not EVERYTHING in Polish cooking is fried and the only people who think ALL Polish food is bland are those that cover all their food with hot sauce or pepper!

Corriander, mace, allspice, bay leaves, parsley, even garlic, were all used liberally in my family's recipes. Yes some foods are fried, but there are all the roasted pork, chicken, and some times beef main dishes complimented by many vegetables also. Soups and stews made from the leftovers were often better than the original meals since they were slow cooked so all the flavors were well blended.

I may be a 'lard assed' Polish American, but I'm getting tired of defending the cuisine I was raised on.

Why the H@LL are you posting or even reading this thread if you HATE Polish food? Go read something else!

Simple? Sure, except for one small fact - I didn't drive in Chicago (I didn't even own a car there). You continue to make blanket statements about my American lifestyle without knowing a damned thing about me - that strikes me as rather foolish.

I'll go one better - I use public transportation much more in Kraków than I ever did in Chicago. So it's entirely possible (if not probable) that I walked more there than I do here.

I feel I am being pretty objective about my lifestyles in America and Europe, yet you seem dead certain that I am somehow deluding myself - why is that?

What's even more foolish is your connection between obesity and artificial ingredients (like dyes) and hormones. Where is the proof those two things are connected? There's plenty of proof obesity is caused by poor nutrition, inadequate exercise and too much of the wrong kinds of food. High fructose corn syrup and the like. How do we know junk food in Poland isn't held up to higher standards by consumer groups, ie; it's made with more nutritional ingredients because Europeans are more demanding about good nutrition?

Almost all nutritionists finger high fructose corn syrup consumption as a major culprit in the nation's obesity crisis. The inexpensive sweetener flooded the American food supply in the early 1980s, just about the time the nation's obesity rate started its unprecedented climb.

Read more:
sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2004/02/18/FDGS24VKMH1.DTL#ixzz0ROJJtGYk

Other articles (probably a waste of time posting them for you, but perhaps others are interested):

wellnessresources.com/weight/articles/how_high_fructose_corn_syrup_causes_obesity

ajcn.org/cgi/content/short/79/4/537

seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2002658491_healthsyrup04.html

I already mentioned the high fructose corn syrup as a culprit. As always, I am at least one step ahead of you.

How about scrambled eggs on bacon or with butter, served with a fatty bread roll? Super tasty for sure but calorific.

The New Pepsi generation in Poland is growing up with fast foods heavy in fat content.i.e.Mcdonalds.As more fast food chains open overweight people will be just as big a problem in Poland as in USA,Canada and England. Hamburgs,fries, pizza ,fried chicken etc.will become a staple food diet.Then you will really see the population expand.

Good point. I recently saw a sandwich joint go under due to a lack of interest. There's a newish KFC here now, just junk. The Poles are also fond of ice-cream

I would rather go to Subway than a fast food place like KFC or Mcdonalds. I get a six inch Oven Roasted Chicken Breast Sub on Monterry Cheddar bread with cucumbers, lettuce, tomatos, green peppers, pickles, and onions. I hope Sub sandwich places become more popular.

PP, you are missing the point. I've been to Subway in different countries and they all have highly calorific options. In my view, they are not healthy. The Polish place, however, had proper tomato and lettuce sarnies. They didn't have all the dressings, cheeses and roast chicken like so many have.

I liked a good Subway in my time tho :)

They have a low calorie menu too. All of their stuff is better than french fries and burgers. They carry Fuze Green and Unsweetened tea. The idea being, sandwich shops, like Subway and local chains, I hope, will eventually win out over the Mcdonalds franchises, KFC and the like. KFC isn't that good, anyway. Their chicken is greasy. I can't stand their chicken thighs.

True enough, PP. They have proper bread rolls which is good. I just object to a tuna sandwich having all those calories but they are mightily tasty and I always have the option of making my own at home, so no big deal.

Subway is only in Warsaw but I'd love to have the option of having one here. It'd be a move with the times.

No it ain't, tis in the city of Krakow also, too and as well.

It's there ana? A didnae ken :)

Oh yeah. The rolls and biscuits at such places are usually great.

They have 6 main varieties. I first fell in love with Subway sandwiches in a lovely place on Namiki Dori, Hiroshima. It was a really hip street in the centre. I cycled off the calories easily.

Course there here.


Love eh, ah well, I was in Hungary there just last week, took me an hour to get a roll made up, bloody ex-communist countries!