RE Chinese food: What do you mean don't drink the tea? The tea is at least made with BOILED water, isn't it? (I guess it must be a little bit okay, anyway... I spent a month with my family visiting mainland China when it was first opened to tourism, and all I drank was (hot) Coke and tea. Lots and lots and lots of tea. Never got sick at all. We even avoided the ice, hence the hot Coke...)
As for the oil, meh... I remember my grandparents keeping bacon drippings in a big can, and scooping out a spoonful when necessary for eggs or summat on t he stove and the grease would just sit there forever on the stove top in a coffee can, never emptied or thrown out and everytime bacon was made, just poured the grease into that can as well. Sometimes if the dogs were lucky, a spoonful got mixed in with their kibble just because. If its being used to deep fry anything it isn't as if there is going to be any bacteria alive in there or whatever... And Chinese people live quite a long time for all the unsanitary , actually. Maybe from building up stronger immune systems from eating all that dirt. =)
But really how do you people eat all the nuts and stuff without getting HUGE?
Popcorn - plain old popcorn, maybe with a little butter or salt is a great way to go. Also if you have to go with nuts, I like salted sunflower seeds in the shell - makes for some burning of the calories in the nuts to do the work of eating em that way (but the shells do invade the keyboard, so that sucks...)
Popcorn is about the only thing that won't make me totally sick if I just sit and munch my way through a ton of it though. And its better than most processed things and not high calorie either but still highly satisfying.
I also like hard candy too. Sour stuff like apple jolly ranchers or Now n' Laters.
Trying to quit drinking soda, or at least cut down because I have to lose a little weight and I drink way too much of it Never touch the diet crap though. just cause it tastes gross. But since my friend lost a ton of weight just by quitting the soda, I am trying to do some substitution of warm water with some lemon. The lemon really does help me drink more water, surprisingly It gives it a bit of flavor and feels like a caloric beverage instead.
The only thing I really hate about popcorn is the skins getting stuck in my teeth and gums... but I have gotten to be quite good at preparing it on the stovetop without scorching or leftover unpopped kernels or excess oil and just the right amount of fluffiness. Might have to go make some right now...
