Super Size Me!

Before you jump the gun, I am not some sick freak making an abhorrent wish to Aladdin’s genie or pleading with Santa Claus for a delinquent Christmas list; I am referring to the movie "Super Size Me." Well I saw this documentary a few days ago and clearly haven't been able to stop yakking about it. In less than eight hours of having viewed the movie, I had discussed it with at least ten of my friends, if not more -- with the same level of avidity, enthrallment, abomination and shock.

The actor and director, Morgan Spurlock (my claim to fame: he was my close friend's neighbor until a few years ago) actually goes on a "McDonald's" diet for a month to show the impact of junk food – both physically and physiologically, on us mere mortals. He paid homage to McDonald’s franchisees all across United States – from bucolic Texas (pompous winner/owner of five of America’s fattest cities) to preppy New York (my guess is NYC boasts America’s most begrimed McDonald’s franchises). So this "harakiri specialist" (my nickname for anyone who lacks amour-propre and indulges in absurd amounts of processed food out of free will) wasn't a student of Michael Moore school of cynicism. He was just a homo sapien out to prove his mettle or add flavor to his interest-deprived life. His fervor for insalubrious comestible was beyond sick as he gormandized on a big whopper and the world got a view of the half- masticated food in his mouth, his puke and then some.

During the filming, Spurlock ate at McDonald's restaurants three times per day, sampling every item on the chain's menu at least once. Can you believe that he actually consumed an average of 5,000 calories per day? After an intense 30-day period, the experiment got over; Spurlock had gained 25 pounds; bestowed upon with ailments; his cholesterol/triglyceride levels had hit unheralded peaks.

Okay, I am an advocate for freshly cooked meals and rarely indulge in fast food, but I have a confession to make – at least three to four times a year, I need to satiate my hankering for Chicken Mcnuggets. The feeling is divine but after watching this documentary, my “Mcnugget vision’ has been ruined for life. Meat of old hen-- laden with sodium--bathed in unhealthy fats--cooked in mass scale--with God alone knows what ambiguous body parts of the bird kingdom-- guaranteed recipe to mess up at least one of your vital organs, if not more.

For those of you who haven't seen this documentary, here is what I have to say: if you want to give up non-vegetarian junk food all together, just watch “Fast Food Nation” and “Super Size Me” and you’ll be set on a vegan diet for life. For those of you who feel an undying love and dedication towards McDonald’s, there is news for you: McDonald’s has come up with “Hugo”—a synonym for save-the company-from picket lines and lawsuits, or simply put, a 42-ounce drink which is now available for as little as 89 cents in some markets. A Hugo soda contains about 410 calories.

McDonald’s has taken a stance on racism -- the company has ensured that minorities don’t lack behind in the “obesity rat race”. Very kindly, it has worked on a strategy of spreading the epidemic to the minority communities -- Hugo ads are available in several languages, making sure that minorities are aware of the budget beverage. Muchos Gracias! Seriously, as South Asians that’s exactly what we need – another food item that leads to weight gain and clogged arteries.

Copyright © 07.23.2007

“As a child my family's menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it” ~Buddy Hackett

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