This past Friday, I had the luxury of watching the news –or make that the pain of watching the news — and then finding a safe haven from all the negative events in the world at, of all places, the Food Network, which I appreciated even more than usual. (And yes, I know this may sound like a pathetic activity for a Friday evening, but I was feeling worn out from an exceptionally busy week and for once just wanted to eat and relax at home.)
For starters, I was really shaken by the awful news from Oslo, having spent time in this wonderful city, but it reminded me that when it comes to terrorism no place on earth is safe. Next came the political stalemate over the debt ceiling. Thoroughly depressed by this time, I idly switched over to the Food Network. “Triple D” (Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives) with Guy Fieri proved to be my savior from the “news blues.” The vicarious visits to some of the country’s most enticing eateries were both soothing and fun. And even though I couldn’t help judging the healthiness of every entrée shown, I found this televised tour of America’s less extravagant dining destinations to be a most effective antidote to the news. In fact, now I can better understand why sugar, salt, fat, lard , chili and beef, and macaroni and cheese can do so much to raise our spirits (along with our cholesterol).
So the next time you find yourself afflicted with the “news blues,” I’d recommend you tune out the tragic and the troubling and tune in to the delights of Triple D’s commonplace cuisine, where you’ll find plenty of “comfort foods” that will lift your spirits without compromising your health.
