If you look at the nutritional information for restaurant food, one thing is that it's got high calories, but a REALLY high amount of sodium. Especially Chinese and Italian food. Is it really necessary?? It's like you can't go out to eat without sacrificing your waistline.
2007-03-21 09:06:09 · 14 answers · asked by garionorb1976 3 in Health ➔ Diet & Fitness
Personally, no I don't think it's necessary. It is however profitable.
If you go to a restaurant and the food tastes like cardboard, you're not going to go back. Since, most people don't check the restaurant's nutritional info, taste is everything and fat and salt taste good.
There's a lot of preservative, usually soduim, in many foods we eat today, because the food must stay fresh in the very long process that takes it to get from the farm to your table. Check almost any frozen food in your grocery store, if you doubt this.
That said, you can go out without sacrificing your waistline, if you're careful. Many restaurants are promoting "locally grown" products that often need less preservative. Also, look for "heart healthy" or "lower sodium" entrees on menus. And, as a general rule, eat only half of what's served in a restaurant. Take the rest home for a meal the next day.
2007-03-21 09:25:02 · answer #1 · answered by Nicole B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Considering that a number of Chinese and Italian restaurants are using pre-packaged stock items for their entrees, it stands to reason that the sodium content is high. Salt is a widely used food preservative.
2007-03-21 16:14:50 · answer #2 · answered by Wee Bit Naughty 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Salt (the main source of sodium in western food) is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to flavor food. It is especially useful for restaurants that use very inexpensive ingredients--just throw some salt on it, and it tastes more palatable. Additionally, we have been historically trained to like salty food, because salt was, for a long time, a primary method for storing food for long periods of time (before refrigeration).
2007-03-21 16:10:04 · answer #3 · answered by Qwyrx 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, a lot of times in resturant food, sodium is used as a preservative. That makes the food last longer and look more presentable for longer. Plus, it does serve it's purpose as a flavor enhancer.
2007-03-21 16:15:51 · answer #4 · answered by soccerbreeee03 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Monosodium glutamate also referred to as MSG has been used for ages in Chinese food for flavor, if you have ever felt really thirsty/dehydrated after eating Chinese food, the reason is MSG. If you google it online it is also know as a flavor enhancer. There are debatable health issues concerning MSG but nothing concrete.....
2007-03-21 16:15:02 · answer #5 · answered by jimmy.parker06 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Salt (sodium) doesn't hurt your waistline. Salt is necessary for food to taste good. Resturants want their food to taste good, and the chef knows how to make it happen. Voila!
2007-03-21 16:09:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know people who eat out all the time are 70% heavier than those who make their meals at home. also the sodium makes u thirsty so u buy more beer, soda, etc. which puts on extra weight as well.
2007-03-21 16:11:23 · answer #7 · answered by 2shay 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe they are trying to cover up some after taste that comes from the poor ingredients used...
2007-03-21 16:13:19 · answer #8 · answered by Sunset 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
salt makes things taste better, and preserves the food longer...so it can stay out and not spoil and still taste good
2007-03-21 16:09:18 · answer #9 · answered by bksrbttr 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
makes it taste good. Like chips and nuts.
2007-03-21 16:08:26 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋