Slim Slow

Starbucks has announced it’s cutting trans-fats from its goodies in 10 US cities, to be followed by the rest of the US and Canada. What took them so long?

Let’s be honest. A takeout muffin, more often than not, is a piece of cake in the shape of a mushroom. They call it low fat but then it’s high in sugar. They say it’s low sugar but it’s laced with fat. It’s cheap, it’s easy to bake and it’s filling. That’s all a lot of people want to know.

We are a really dopey species, aren’t we? We make sure that schoolkids know how to do ridiculous algebra equations but we don’t show them how to balance a chequebook. We make them learn the stats of some far off country that barely affects them but we don’t teach them how to eat a proper diet. Well, at least, we didn’t when I was in school. Now we’re finally getting smarter and putting a higher priority on physical activity and nutrition. Too bad it’s too late for so many.

Starbucks says it has taken 2 years to develop the strategy for rolling out the healthier goodies. I’m no chemist, or baker, but that seems like an awfully long time. What about the other major food chains? A neighbour and I were musing last evening about how long it’s been since we’ve eaten KFC. Maybe it’s different now for a generation that didn’t grow up with the chicken chain proudly screaming the word FRIED at them. The name change to an acronym didn’t alter my perception one iota.

You have to indulge in something less healthy than a granola bar once in a while. I don’t believe in labelling foods as “bad” but some require limits. I just can’t comprehend why it’s taken some firms so long to abandon their obviously unhealthy ways and make a few changes that are better for everyone. If Starbucks is able to prove to me that its muffins are not the caloric equivalent of an entire meal and won’t cause the instant blockage of a major artery, where I’m concerned, they may actually improve muffin sales by changing the ingredients to make them healthier.