The Fear of Mayonnaise

Are you one of many Americans who are afraid of mayonnaise? Tonight, as we talk about mayonnaise, perhaps one of the most loved, hated, and mysterious of all condiments, I will alleviate your fears of its mystery, persuade you that it is safe to use, and enlighten you that there are varieties of mayonnaise that are sure to fit into our healthy lifestyles.Your fear of mayonnaise may be its mystery. Are you one of the many who have seen a putrid dollop of Mayonnaise on a great aunt’s cheek at a 4th of July picnic and have not touched the stuff for four years because you still don’t know what Mayonnaise is? I know you may have seen mayonnaise turn into a cloudy, oily substance at the end of the picnic, and have sworn you will never touch the stuff.Poor mayonnaise. There is nothing harmful with its ingredients; they are just waiting to return to their natural state from this “emulsion.” This is that big word “emulsifier”-an emulsifier keeps the unstable mixture of acid and vegetable oil stable.Mayonnaise is an emulsified semisolid food. It is prepared from vegetable oil, an acidifying ingredient (such as vinegar), and egg-yolk.Is it safe to take this mysterious substance called Mayonnaise on a picnic? Mayonnaise has been given a bad reputation for spoiling casseroles that are left in the sun. Here is advice for your next picnic from Best Foods.Chicken, ham, and/or potatoes are more susceptible to bacterial growth than mayonnaise itself. According to Best Foods, the vinegar and salt in Mayonnaise actually slow bacterial growth. Best Foods recommends

1. Chilling Mayonnaise2. Keeping it in insulated containers3. Keeping it out of direct sunlight

Okay, so I won’t die a grueling death over the toilet from food poisoning, but what about all of that fat in mayonnaise? I do care about my arteries.Best Foods and many others offer quite a few varieties of mayonnaise from the hearty to the health conscious

1. For instance, there is Real Mayonnaise (The Heartiest Variety)

a. 90 cal/ tbspb. 10g fatc. 1.5 g sat fat

2. Canola Oil Mayonnaise(Similar to Real Mayonnaise)a. 90 cal/ tbspb. 10g fatc. 1 g sat fat (Less Saturated Fat)

3. Light Mayonnaisea. 45 cal/tbsp (1/2 Calories Real Mayo)b. 4.5 g fat (1/2 fat)c. 0.5 g sat fat (1/3 sat fat)

4. Reduced Fat Mayonnaisea. 20 cal/ tbsp (1/4 calories real mayo)b. 2g fat (1/5 fat)c. 0 g sat fat (no sat fat)

You may ask, is low fat mayonnaise any better for me than real mayonnaise? The American Heart Association does recommend foods low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, and sodium. According to the American Heart Association, some studies have shown that some people who have included fat substitutes such as those found in low fat mayonnaise help decrease fat and calorie intake yet increase nutrient profile.And what does the Mayo Clinic have to say about mayonnaise? To reduce the amount of fat and cholesterol in one’s diet, reduced fat Mayonnaise type salad dressing should be used.Hopefully, I may have alleviated your fear of Mayonnaise, the “mysterious condiment.” Perhaps now you have a better grasp of what it actually is, that it won’t give you food poisoning, and that even though it has many hearty varieties, there are plenty of lower fat alternatives, as well. And of course what is a turkey sandwich without mayonnaise?

Sources:

Vernon Fletcher, PhD

http://www.unilever800.com/hellmanns_faq/answer.asp?host=www.best-foods.com&ID=5&Counter=1&When=4/1/2007

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4633 (3/31/07)

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-recipes/NU00585 (4/8/07)

The Coffee Fund is Gone

That was the day. It was 3:30 and on your break you had your third non-fat, no-whip latte of the day. Ah, one last shot to get you through your hectic afternoon. Steamed milk hitting your senses-that was the day. You reached into your “coffee-fund,” or even used one of many Starbuck’s $5 gift cards that used to flow like shots of espresso. That was the day.

And as you said, “Nah, I don’t need my receipt,” clang, into the bin, you tossed fifty-cents. The steamer attacked the non-fat milk, and anxiously you awaited the call of your name. One last shot to get you through the afternoon. Five o’ clock wasn’t so far off with a latte.

But sadly, the gift card stream seems to have dried up. On Secretary’s Day, you get a “Nice Job” card with a dozen jellybeans. You rub your temples to get through the afternoon. Five o’ clock just inches along, slowly. No more shots, no more lattes, just bags of jellybeans and empty thank you cards.

When you hit the café, maybe once in the morning, you have traded that big frothy cup for ordinary Joe. Non-fat milk poured into French-Roast is pretty much mediocrity in a cup compared to yesterday’s smooth, steamy late. You make the best of it, and you wish Secretary’s Day would bring its little rewards. However, when the quarter or fifty-cents comes back your way, you put it into the bin. Your gift card has dried up; that does not mean somebody else’s has to.

Hello world!

Hi, I am Andy