Why I Just Ate a Pop Tart

I just ate a Pop Tart.  198 calories and 55 grams of fat.  It tasted exactly as I remembered.  Sickeningly sweet.  Burn-the-roof-of-your-mouth-off hot.  Artificial.  A little like cardboard.  My sister Judith and I occasionally ate Pop Tarts for breakfast -- or instead of breakfast -- when we were teenagers.  Susan was always better organized than we were and made herself a proper sit-down meal.  If my mother knew then what we know now about the connection between learning and nutrition, she never would have permitted them in the house. No doubt she discouraged us from making this choice, but who was listening? 

I'm old enough now to know better, but I ate the Pop Tart anyway to figure out why they're still on the grocery store shelves.  After 40 years, what's the appeal?  I also wanted to spend a few minutes in the shoes of an Eastwood student who might make this choice over a healthier one.  Afterall, Susan's Change Purse is primarily about getting young minds going first thing in the morning with the fuel that fires learning.

What struck me about this unpretentious little "toaster pastry" was the speed at which it lands in your stomach and gives you a hit of energy.  Nothing that is that easy to prepare, goes down that quickly or costs so little can be good for you.

The healthy eaters at the Mayo Clinic advise that a good breakfast consists of:

• Whole grains. Options include whole-grain rolls, bagels, hot or cold whole-grain cereals, low-fat bran muffins, crackers, or melba toast.
• Low-fat protein. Options include hard-boiled eggs, peanut butter, lean slices of meat and poultry, or fish, such as water-packed tuna or slices of salmon.
• Low-fat dairy. Options include skim milk, low-fat yogurt and low-fat cheeses, such as cottage and natural cheeses.
• Fruits and vegetables. Options include fresh fruits and vegetables or 100 percent juice beverages without added sugar.

Whtat everyone needs is a mix of complex carbohydrates, fiber, protein and a small amount of fat that to get a full feeling that lasts for hours, they tell us.  But what I remember from my teenage years is that sleep matters more than food.  We were always looking for something fast, easy and inexpensive.  I guess I still am.

What do you eat in the morning -- or make your kids eat -- when on the run?  I wonder what they serve in the Eastwood cafeteria for breakfast these days?  (The lunch spread back in the '70s was hardly comparable to the salad bar at Whole Foods!)