French fries make the world go round. They're a favorite side dish of adults and children alike. They can be dressed up with cheese and truffle oil or enjoyed the old-fashioned way with a heap of ketchup. Americans, in particular, are known to love a big portion of fries with a burger at their preferred fast-food joint — which is why it's so alarming to hear a Harvard professor recommend that a mere six french fries is the acceptable serving size.
The recent New York Times article divulging this horrifying information has fry fanatics outraged. The article points out that french fries shouldn't be consumed in the portions we've become accustomed to. While the Agriculture Department quantifies a serving of fries as 3 oz. — or about 12 to 15 individual fries (which is still a pretty small amount, TBH) — the Harvard professor took the idea a step further.
Eric Rimm, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, says an ideal side would be six french fries and a small salad.
Those who love french fries were pretty appalled by a recent New York Times article, where a Harvard professor recommended that six french fries is a proper portion.
Eric Rimm, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, made the claim that this beloved food is also "a weapon of dietary destruction."
Dietician Elaine Magee, who was also featured in the article, said that, if eaten "mindfully," 10 french fries should satisfy you.
Of course, french fries aren't all bad. Made from potatoes, they have dietary potassium and vitamin C.
As you can imagine, french fry lovers were not here for this "limit yourself" mentality one bit.
People took to Twitter wondering just how this number came about.
One woman shocked her followers by explaining she had been told an even lower number by her doctor, who recommended four fries!
Most people were pretty honest and straightforward about the fact that eating only six fries sounds like insanity.
There were a lot of people who were deep in denial.
An important question was raised by craftier tweeters, who wondered what exactly constitutes six individual french fries? Like, how long are we talking here?
While french fry connoisseurs vow to eat without care, some can't help but feel a little guilty about their indulgence now.
For many, the damage has already been done, and they just don't care.
Depriving oneself of french fries seems much scarier to many than whatever health issues said fries might cause down the line.
The Twitter outrage was so real that Dr. Rimm himself had to clarify his comments, saying it would be healthier for all if smaller portions were offered by restaurants.
What do you think of the professor's recommendation?
