Most people, except those on death row, never think about what they would have for their last meal.
There's rarely the thought that today is the last day of my life so "what should I eat?".
We tend to eat without really thinking much about what it is we are eating.
(That's actually part of the obesity problem in the U.
S.
, but that's a topic for another article.
) So just for a moment, imagine that you're faced with the decision as to what to have for your last meal.
What would you have? For me, I love so many different foods.
I would be hard-pressed to know what to choose for my last meal.
When I was first asked that question, I immediately put on my dietitian's hat, coming up with foods that were healthy.
(There really is a nutritionist's mindset involved when you're so used to helping people make healthier choices that are good for their body and knowing what's good for my own.
) But, if this was going to be my last meal, the sky is the limit (even if my stomach isn't big enough to hold it all).
Knowing it's my last meal, I didn't have to care whether what I was eating would give me another five years of life or a heart attack or any of the diseases that plague us today.
I was soon to be checking out anyway.
Now that changed my perspective entirely.
Images of Asian-styled spareribs, chocolate ganache-cloaked cake, melted Monterey Jack in a bowl floated through my brain.
I posed this question to fellow dietitians.
Because dietitians and nutritionists are often stereotyped as food police, you'd think they couldn't come up with anything decadent.
To the contrary- they can.
Believe it or not, dietitians and nutritionists are human.
We enjoy good food as much or more than the next guy.
When I would go to parties and bring something to share, I got chastised if it included butter or chocolate.
"You're a dietitian," they would say, figuring that dietitians and nutritionists just eat berries, nuts, and tofu.
They made it sound like it was a sin to indulge.
Guess what? You can eat just about anything you want as long as you use some common sense.
You don't have to eat as if every meal is your last meal.
Here are some of the choices dietitians would have for their last meal:
So we do need to enjoy some of those beloved foods along the way, balancing that indulgence with sensibility and responsibility to our bodies.
We've only got one body and should treat it with respect.
But if it's my last meal, to heck with it all.
I have a quote on my wall that jokingly puts things into perspective: Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate and wine in one hand, body thoroughly used, totally worn out and screaming, "WOO HOO, what a ride!" Nice to know that chocolate and wine have some health benefits, but that doesn't mean I have to OVER-indulge.
I'm not proposing we throw out all the health advice we give as dietitians.
However, the pleasure of eating must be put into the equation with that health advice.
Because without the pleasure, what's the reason for living? So, when you enjoy an indulgence, know it's just that.
There's rarely the thought that today is the last day of my life so "what should I eat?".
We tend to eat without really thinking much about what it is we are eating.
(That's actually part of the obesity problem in the U.
S.
, but that's a topic for another article.
) So just for a moment, imagine that you're faced with the decision as to what to have for your last meal.
What would you have? For me, I love so many different foods.
I would be hard-pressed to know what to choose for my last meal.
When I was first asked that question, I immediately put on my dietitian's hat, coming up with foods that were healthy.
(There really is a nutritionist's mindset involved when you're so used to helping people make healthier choices that are good for their body and knowing what's good for my own.
) But, if this was going to be my last meal, the sky is the limit (even if my stomach isn't big enough to hold it all).
Knowing it's my last meal, I didn't have to care whether what I was eating would give me another five years of life or a heart attack or any of the diseases that plague us today.
I was soon to be checking out anyway.
Now that changed my perspective entirely.
Images of Asian-styled spareribs, chocolate ganache-cloaked cake, melted Monterey Jack in a bowl floated through my brain.
I posed this question to fellow dietitians.
Because dietitians and nutritionists are often stereotyped as food police, you'd think they couldn't come up with anything decadent.
To the contrary- they can.
Believe it or not, dietitians and nutritionists are human.
We enjoy good food as much or more than the next guy.
When I would go to parties and bring something to share, I got chastised if it included butter or chocolate.
"You're a dietitian," they would say, figuring that dietitians and nutritionists just eat berries, nuts, and tofu.
They made it sound like it was a sin to indulge.
Guess what? You can eat just about anything you want as long as you use some common sense.
You don't have to eat as if every meal is your last meal.
Here are some of the choices dietitians would have for their last meal:
- That's easy for me: fried chicken (wings only, please, although backs would be acceptable as well), French fries, maybe a slice or two of NY style pizza, many scoops of ice cream (no vanilla) with lots of delicious thick hot fudge (hold the whipped cream and nuts)and lots of very cold Pepsi.
There's a book called My Last Supper by Melanie Dunea.
- Sharon - My last meal? That's easy: Cheeseburger and French Fries and a Gibson.
-Susan Nicholson RD - MMMMM...
So many delicious things to eat, how can I decide? I'd probably start with Ahi tuna Poki and crab with garlic butter for appetizers, then have some Fettucine Alfredo, maybe some fried chicken, and Moules frites with garlic aioli (steamed mussels with thin French fries).
For dessert, a sampler of chocolate cake with real buttercream frosting, bread pudding with caramel sauce, and a few Lindt peanut butter truffles.
To drink, a nice jammy Zinfandel and an Espresso straight up with my dessert(s)! - RD4Change - Definitely the biggest pile of nachos with black beans, chicken, and cheese.
- Debrra Indorato - My last meal, hmmmm - Lobster dipped in butter, fried eggplant with maple syrup, lemon sponge pie and my grandmother would have to come back to life and make her bread pudding and macaroni and cheese.
- Sue Noriega - You know what - for my last meal I am not even contemplating nutrition.
But my favorite foods (coming from New England my home!) are seafood- maybe scallops and lobster, throw in some spinach sauteed in a nice sauce preferably a milk based sauce with some spaetzle on the side- that German pasta which my husband from Munich makes so well or a couple of French crepes.
The plate needs some color like red peppers or orange slices.
For dessert chocolate and of course some exotic gelato like- ginger and pear! Yes I am a foodie and love good food! The better the food looks and the more exotic, the more I love it.
Plus of course it has to taste good-It needs to be gourmet and plated well just like on Iron Chef! - Emma Fogt, MBA, MS, RD, LDN - I had major surgery several years ago with no guarantees - so the night before I had what might have been my last meal.
As a New Englander - I went for the New England Clambake - steamed clams and mussels, NE clam chowder, lobster, baked potato, corn on the cob, wine and crème brûlée for dessert.
And, I didn't spare the butter! - Ann
So we do need to enjoy some of those beloved foods along the way, balancing that indulgence with sensibility and responsibility to our bodies.
We've only got one body and should treat it with respect.
But if it's my last meal, to heck with it all.
I have a quote on my wall that jokingly puts things into perspective: Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate and wine in one hand, body thoroughly used, totally worn out and screaming, "WOO HOO, what a ride!" Nice to know that chocolate and wine have some health benefits, but that doesn't mean I have to OVER-indulge.
I'm not proposing we throw out all the health advice we give as dietitians.
However, the pleasure of eating must be put into the equation with that health advice.
Because without the pleasure, what's the reason for living? So, when you enjoy an indulgence, know it's just that.
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