Double Life

Strike up the band. Butter is back. According to a recent article in our local paper, the little rectangular delights are steadily climbing back into the fridges of consumers. Apparently, folks prefer a food label that has recognizable ingredients.

Here's the real scoop. Butter never left. It has been faithfully nestled in the dairy department for as many years as I have been shopping and that would be many, many years. It quietly suffered through the low-fat craze. It made space for margarine, the darling of the baking world. It puzzled its way through the "I-can't-believe-it's-not-butter" era. It kept the same shape, the same packaging and the same nondescript name, butter. My fridge has always made room for butter. Not because it is fashionable or fancy or pretty. It has a home with me because it is unpretentiously tasty. And its labels are easy to read.

Eggs suffered a similar malignment phase. Happy little chickens pumping out happy little eggs for centuries until one day the dreaded "study" is released. Suddenly, the little ovals of delight are touted as hardened criminals intent on sabotaging any hope for good health. Arteries would be clogged irreparably, LDLs would soar and cookie dough would forever be contaminated. Fast forward to one of today's ads: Eggs, the perfect food. Well, shiver me timbers. Of course it is. Eggs are little pre-packaged snacks of plentiful goodness. Versatile, economical, tasty and hard working. Welcome back, dear eggs. You will always have a place of honor next to the butter in my refrigerator.

And let's not forget chocolate. My generation suffered through years of chocolate warnings. It will make you fat. It will give you pimples. It has no nutritional value. It will make you hyper. Thank goodness, the nutrition gods de-bunked a few of those myths. Retail shelves are now lined with a myriad of choices. Sea salt, lavender and chili powder are being added as enhancements. Cocao percentages are boldly printed as badges of honor and value. Bitter, semi-sweet, dark, milk and unsweetened are common prefixes. The only thing missing is simplicity. Plain old Hershey's chocolate bars will continue to be snugly tucked away in my cupboard. A little dab will do you and the jumbo size comes in handy when friends are involved.

Last but not least is the lowly nut. We were led to believe that nuts were so chock full of fat that they had no redeeming value other than a texture boost in baked goods. Not so, after all. Now, just about every weight loss program, nutritional plan and Dr. Ozite heralds nuts as the perfect snack choice. High protein, fiber and good fats--the trifecta of wellness. Walnuts, almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts, take your pick. Add them to chocolate and oh my, baby, now we're talking.

Enjoy your omelettes, buttered toast and Nutella. And hopefully, a cure for all diseases will be announced soon and its name will be Cheeto.