Arrgh! Goverment Recommendations Go Overboard Again!

That's what I thought until I started visiting Europe regularly (and now living here). Even my gf had to admit after her stay in the US, that the food choices in the US are much more healthy and diverse.It really is shocking how bad European food is, and its slim pickings if you want actual health food.Which of course is not to say it is bad tasting. Oh my no. In fact I just found a great English Fish and Chips shop (run by an enterprising Brit) with authentic British fair for those coming over to naughty ol amsterdam. The menu is heartstopping... almost literally. From the batter-fried hamburgers and sausages (yes as bad as a hamburger already is they deepfry it) to the "chip butty" (essentially a french fry sandwich), and all slathered in a vinegar/salt solution... oh my, yum yum.Actually I thought your post was really well done (the description of yourself didn't hurt), but I figured I should point out there are lard asses, and veins over on this side of the pond too.

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holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)

Actually they seem to exercise (as in work out specifically to stay in shape) less. However their lifestyles are more active in general. Yes there is more walking, and in the Netherlands lots of biking and climbing stairs. I can handle the stairs part (no need for stairmaster here) but the biking makes me sick. I have no idea how these guys bike so many miles to and from work everyday, even in the nastiest wind and rain.As far as eating smaller portions... not from what I've seen.I should probably note that in the news around here the Dutch are starting to grow statistically wider, and the Germans have supposedly reached and exceeded US mass. Yeah, now you just gave me an excuse.

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holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)

I had a fried chocolate bar, but not a battered/deepfried one. Sounds enticing.

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holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)

They do seem to be more active.I imagine some of it is that they used to have more free time than those in the US. For those in the US it seems to be work hard for long long periods of time and then collapse and become a potato (because you won't have any other time). Here it seems there is more time so you'll have plenty of time to actually rest, plus enjoy physical activities that you just enjoy (and not merely to stay in shape).But more than that there is just more physical activity in life. Much more walking and biking. Given that cities are much smaller than the US, this is more practical.In the Netherlands, there are also lots of stairs.

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holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)