Recently I had to attend a memorial service for someone whom left this earth far too young. His parents, my parents, and several other immigrants settled in a certain town north of NYC and quickly became the backbone of the local Greek-American community. He was the same age as my brother. They were somewhat close growing up. In fact, our families were somewhat close during our formative years. They were always kind, warm, and welcoming people. So losing him was quite a shock.
We could not attend his funeral for it was in a different city. However, in our religion we have a memorial service forty days after someone’s death. I believe it is because it recognizes this as the time when a soul reaches heaven post death, or something like this. It starts out as a mention during the liturgy of a normal church service. Then at the end of said liturgy, you offer the family your condolences. Anyway, since this memorial service was held in our hometown, at our home church, my family and many others whom were unable to attend the funeral showed up.
Here are two takeaways (for me anyway) from this man’s untimely death, which shook us all mind you:
God giveth, and god taketh away for this guy was one of the great ones. As an example to show everyone that life is far too short. Live in the moment and make the most of it. God will take away the good as an example. To humble us.
This memorial service, as much as we would rather have this man among us, brought so many people together that have not seen one another in years...decades. For a brief moment after the service, it was almost as if we went back in time, when we were all brighter, less weathered and jaded, younger, perhaps happier.
After the church service, everyone began socializing in the lobby as usual. This is when we were all invited to a lunch at a local diner in his memory. Also customary. Giving everyone a further opportunity to break bread, and otherwise catch up with others we all have not seen for so many years. In his honor. In his name. It was great.
Now to explain things a little bit more about the scenario and shift focus a little bit.
In the New York tri-state area, which is roughly an 80-90 mile radius about New York City including bits of the state of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, diners are quite popular. For decades now. If you know, you know.
These eating establishments specialize in a little bit of everything. You can get all sorts of burgers, fries, onion rings. Club sandwiches. Seafood, poultry, pasta, or red-meat style entrees of many different varieties. Omelets, waffles, pancakes and other breakfast items. Desserts of all sorts. The food is generally pretty tasty, and good value for the money. They have been known to stay open 24 hours. And, most importantly, you can order anything on the menu at any time.
You know you’re in this sort of diner if behind the cash register there exists a small bar. Tell-tale sign.
So, the memorial lunch was held at one of the better diners in the area as it has been featured on a very popular television show here in America hosted by a now famous chef/tv personality with a characteristic wild hairdo, colorful shiny sunglasses, and mildly larger than life persona. The whole show revolves around the more affordable high quality restaurant options this nation has to offer.
When we arrived, the parking lot was packed. We got in, and food was already waiting for us. As was a shot of whiskey and a HUGE bottle of red wine. I quickly got to work. Offered up on a platter on each table in our private room were bite sized spinach and cheese pies (basically a spinach and cheese based filling, respectively, wrapped in crispy phyllo dough), fried calamari with a tomato based red dipping sauce, bread, and salad. All of which are savory delicacies you can expect when eating in Greece. There were also salmon locks, and cream cheese toast slices which is not a go to for a Greek person (those went untouched).
While socializing with the other attendees, I knocked out one full plate filled with everything less the salad. Then the elders all started knocking back their shots. This prompted me to do the same. Upon which I realized I was still hungry, so I went for a second full plate using this as an opportunity to get a lunch of sorts (when we got home I was going to top it all off with some dairy and fruit for my nutritional requirements).
There was one problem though, those platters were just the hors d'oeuvres...we still had the main course to go. On the car ride over, my parents were telling me that it is customary at these things to serve fish, which is why I got it all wrong (the fried calamari). So out came the salmon, rice, and grilled zucchini. A meal I have made for myself a countless number of times. I was like alright; I'll just overeat a little bit today. Which is nothing out of the ordinary here and there for me.
Note, I am someone whom likes to clean my plate. And this plate was cleanable, for I had room in my stomach. So I ate it all up, no issues. Not really full, just satisfied. To wash down the meal, I had several glasses of the red wine (and water). It quickly dawned on me why this place was recommended on national television, everything was really tasty, well cooked, and well prepared.
Then I got home.
Earlier that day, I thought I was going to take a little rest then get to the gym for a kickboxing session after the memorial. When all was said and done, it was only three in the afternoon. Plenty of time. So on went the TV. After finding something I liked on YouTube...the food coma commenced. I was in and out of sleep, lethargic, had trouble keeping focus, and felt like I had bricks in my stomach.
By the time this coma allowed me to come to a little bit, the gym was already closed. Not that I would have been able to make it for I felt like garbage. People were telling me my face was swollen a little bit, but I did not have any food allergies.
But what was happening to me...?
This phenomenon is rare, but it does happen. And when it does, it usually boils down to some restaurant I have eaten at. To be clear, the amount of food I ate is nothing new to me. The only difference being it is usually from home cooked meals or a trusted source. And by a trusted source I mean a restaurant that does not make me feel horrible after the fact.
For me, the reason this sometimes happens further boils down to two main things:
The use of inferior cooking oils.
The use of msg or other forms of preservatives.
If you have been paying attention to this blog, you will know that I have written about the benefits using extra virgin olive oil. Both in my sweet and savory dishes. The salmon for lunch was clearly cooked in some butter, or was it butter. Margarine is vegetable oil that is hydrogenated to bring it to a solid state of matter at colder temperatures, but still melts like butter when heat is introduced.
Hydrogenated oils are bad for your heart health. However, I don't use them so I have no basis for comparison. Translation, I am not sure hydrogenated oil alone would make me feel the way I did after a meal. They do have a longer shelf life and are going to be cheaper than real butter, or extra virgin olive oil. One of these aspects is a huge benefit to the restaurant industry. I do believe that if the salmon was cooked in and basted in pure butter, this may have contributed to my lethargy and brick stomach.
This leaves the msg, or monosodium glutamate. A type of sodium option that flavors food in a way regular table salt cannot. Think of it as a salt type seasoning, on steroids. It makes any food it is applied to taste way more savory than it normally would. Check out the video below.
The man who cooked two steaks, one with msg, one without, is clearly blown away by the msg seasoned steak. This wow factor he experiences is what keeps a lot of restaurant goers coming back for more, especially when they cook with base ingredients that are of low quality, ie less expensive. These are for profit businesses after all.
Here is the problem though, using msg as a flavor enhancer comes with a side effect...water retention. For me, when I eat at a restaurant that clearly flavors using msg, my body holds onto so much water afterwards, it's insane. And it takes days to get back to normal. This form of bloating is on another level, and can cause some serious ailments and compromise one's health if you eat such prepared foods on a regular basis. Especially for those that struggle with high blood pressure.
When I cook for myself, I use the best ingredients that I can afford. Often quality fruits, vegetables, grains, and meats are extremely budget friendly. But, you must bring it all home, prepare them, and cook them yourself. So minimal loss of time, combined with a small amount of effort, is the only way you pay. What I get in return is an enhancement to my physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health. Eating this way makes me feel as good as possible, and gives me a solid foundation to fuel my efforts in life. Touch wood, but I have seen many elders whom have eaten in this manner live long and happy lives.
Eating out on a regular basis may cause you to pay with your health. Feeling like I did on a regular basis does not sound like a good time. In addition, I have seen people do so with not so great results. You only have one life to live.
Look, if you don't believe me, try it out for yourself. I have done breakfast and lunch/dinner recipes on here (with more to come) you can use as a reference. You can find everything in my archive. Try eating every meal from a restaurant for one week, then try the following week with home cooked meals only. Tell me which one is better in the comments below.
So to cap it off, I felt like garbage from eating out. This was the cause of the lethargy and bloating. And to call myself out, I think the shot and several glasses of wine put me to sleep haha. That wore off, but the bloating is not all the way gone. And it's been several days now.
You don't have to live like a king to eat like one. Nor do you have to be a super talented chef.
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