Louisiana

You notice right away that you’re in another state. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it’s evident very quickly. Don’t know whether that’s going to be the case every time we cross a state border, but this time it was. For instance the casino billboards. None of those in Texas! And the condition of the roads. The I-10, which we’ve been on virtually all day, was absolutely awful for a good many miles. We could hardly communicate inside the RV, which  rattles quite a lot even at the best of times.

We’re at a campground just outside Lafayette. It was late when we arrived, so we don’t really know what it’s like. Right now we’re planning the next few days and trying to get an idea of what this is costing us pr. day in gas and other utilities. Won’t let you in on that just yet ;-)

We’ve been half eating out, half self-catering since we came here. Allthough I just love a real American breakfast with sausages, pancakes etc., I’m so happy that we have a fair sized fridge and freezer, and that the supermarkets have such a fantastic selection of ripe and yummy fruit and veg, some of it even ready peeled and cut. Because otherwise I really don’t think I could avoid putting on weight! We discuss this every time we’re in a grocery store or in a restaurant or fastfood place. It’s almost impossible to buy things that are good for you! Take the above mentioned cut fruit in the supermarket. Half of it is sold with a bowl of caramel sauce or the like. Or the bread section – 3/4 of the bread isn’t really bread, it’s cake! Same with yoghurt – there are about 200 kinds with “fruit” (=more than 15% sugar) and 2-3 kinds of natural yoghurt – and one that’s also fat free. And in fastfood places, you’re punished if you want a bottle of water instead of a soft drink. The socalled Combos (Supersize Me!) include only huge glasses of coke, sprite or the like. Water is extra. Lots of things are sold with FAT FREE on the label. Fine, but it doesn’t say that it contains 40% sugar – and the reverse – things are sold as SUGAR FREE, and you have to read the small print to see how much fat there’s in it.

It’s a really hard job to not put on weight here! Small wonder that it’s the poor and the uneducated who (mainly) suffer from obesity and all the related illnesses – it’s almost a science to shop healthy food that’s also affordable in the big grocery stores – particularly if you can’t, won’t or are unable to cook your own food and must rely on ready-made.

If you’re new to my blog, you don’t yet know that this is one of my pet subjects. But be prepared! It won’t be the last time you’ll find a mention of this or related subjects – not only am I obsessed with what’s in the food we eat and the politics that influence it, I’m also what the Americans call a Foodie…