Oprah- Off the wagon??

[Tiger]

Sorry, but that's all I could think of today watching her Summer cooking show. They started out with waffles that were full of fat and at one point she went on and on about her new favorite ice cream.
Actually I think it's good that she seems to finally accept her body and is enjoying food. And her chef Art Smith did have some suggestions on keeping things healthy.
I had bought her old chef Rosie's cookbook and was disappointed. Involved recipes that weren't WOW. Does anyone have Art Smith's cookbook? She want on and on about his award for it. But I have to wonder if it's really good and just sold because of being on her show.
I tried the grilled fruit tonight and it was OK. The sweetpotato salad looked great and so did the pork roast. You can get the recipes on her website.

[valchemist]

I noticed that too -- that oprah didn't show any interest in light cooking. At one point she mentioned that Art Smith, her personal chef, "knows all about 'good' Southern Cooking (read: high fat cooking)."

But she looks great and it is nice that she seems to be at peace with herself finally.

I don't know anything about Art Smith. I wasn't tempted to run out and buy his book. Or that high fat ice cream that Oprah was touting.

Just my opinion...maybe others were more impressed.

[Barrie]

Ok, I'm dying to know - what is her new favorite ice cream?

[valchemist]

it is a little known brand made by a small family owned company...

Here is the information that was posted on Oprah's website.

Graeter's Ice Cream
For more information and details on how to order, visit: http://graeters.com/icecream.html or call 800-721-3323.


Oprah said it was a super-rich, dense, non-airy ice cream.

[ClaraB]

Originally posted by valchemist
it is a little known brand made by a small family owned company...

Here is the information that was posted on Oprah's website.

Graeter's Ice Cream
For more information and details on how to order, visit: http://graeters.com/icecream.html or call 800-721-3323.


Oprah said it was a super-rich, dense, non-airy ice cream. Hey, I know Graeter's ice cream! It's a Cincinnati tradition - they have a chain of ice-cream parlours there. Boy, is it ever yummy, premium-quality ice cream, but it isn't any better than Cow's ice cream, from PEI :D .

[mightyh]

I'll have to agree with Oprah--if you ever get a chance to try Graeter's ice cream it is hands down the BEST ever. I always try to stop there when I visit my parents in Ohio cause nothing else even comes close... Their flavors with the "chips" (chocolate chips which are really chunks of homemade chocolate) are to die for--my favorite is the raspberry chip.

[wallycat]

I have Art's book (sale at Sam's) but haven't made anything from it yet. I did notice that most of his recipes were quite hefty in the fat area. I usually use cookbooks as a guide, so some of his stuff is just for inspiration.
Hmmmmmmmmm, I had a post going for favorite ice-cream...I haven't heard of the one Oprah likes. I did recently indulge in Haagan-dazs coffee flavor....HEAVEN. Breyers may be replaced :D :D :o

[sjs9601]

Ok - another vote for fabulous Graeter's ice cream. I'm a former Ohio resident who's moved to the north and I definitely miss my summer evening Graeter's fix. Up here the soft ice cream (aka dairy queen style) seems to be the thing. My favorite Graeter's was Mocha Chip. We're not talking just chocolate chips, but actual chunks of dark chocolate. Ahhhhh! Actually, the also offer several "fruit ices" (aka sorbet) in their stores, which is much healthier than their traditional ice cream. Once I tried the raspberry and strawberry fruit ices, I had a hard time going back to the full fat stuff. If you're in Ohio, Krogers and Big Bear groceries also carry it in their freezer sections.

I'll be back in Ohio in a few weeks and am definitely looking foward to getting my Graeter's fix! Sandy:D

[MKSquared]

Oprah loves Graeters? SO DO I! :)

Oh, yumyumyumyum. It's the longest continuously producing ice cream company in the United States. Everyone else stopped during the war, but Graeters just kept plugging along.

I'm telling everyone, you need to come to Columbus ... :) Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip Ice Cream with semisweet Chocolate Syrup ... droooooool.....

Anyway, I've been watching her go up and up in size again ... it seems that she values exercises more, so that's a start, right?

[Canice]

I'd never even heard of Graeter's before, but couldja send me a pint o'

Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip Ice Cream with semisweet Chocolate Syrup ... droooooool.....
....pleeeeaze?

I don't know much about Oprah's dieticians/cooks/consultants whathaveyou, but last week Rosie and Dr. Andrew Weil were on Talk of the Nation -- they've done a book together which sounded interesting and very helpful. Or is that off the point here? Geez, I don't even know what I'm talking about -- I just keep trying to imagine blackraspberrychocolatechipicecreamwithsemisweetch ocolatesyrup..... [drooooool]. !!

[valchemist]

you can order it online...

but it will take a while to get it since they are going to be innundated with requests now that Oprah mentioned them.

[ReneeV]

Seems to me that Oprah has stayed the same size for a while now. During that "beef" trial, she put on a little weight but then seemed to even out.

I think she looks good! Not eveyone can look like a skinny model. Some peoples natural body weight is higher than others. She seems healthy and fit to me. I got the impression that she indulges carefully and modestly from some of the comments she made. Remember, these are her favorite fun-time foods. She probably doesn't eat them all the time or indulge in large portions.

What fun would it be to give a recipe for an egg white omlette with lots of veggies and low-fat cheese cooked in PAM? I mean, this may be very tastey and we all may eat this way most of the time, but not exactly cookbook material for ol' Art is it now?

As we all know, it's difficult, if not impossible to sustain a 100% healthy diet 100% of the time. I think she has set attainable goals and has managed to stay healthy by allowing herself to indulge once in a while. A lesson I wish I could get a better grasp of. Far too often it's all or nothing with me, but I'm trying to strike a good balance.

JMHO,

Renée

P.S.
Graeter's is the best. I spent a summer with the Cincinnati Opera. After rehearsals, there was nothing better than a cone from Graeter's on a hot Cincinnati night!

[Natasha]

Hey Clara -

I love Cow's ice cream too! :)

Natasha

[BarbaraL]

I have the cookbook by Oprah's former chef, Rosie. I've loved everything I've made from it, but haven't tried that many recipes because the preparation is pretty involved and there seem to be alot of fairly expensive ingredients.

I read some reviews about the Rosie and Dr. Weil book; maybe on Amazon.com? They were pretty negative. The reviewers felt the recipes weren't light and healthy, and that the book was kind of schizophrenic -- the authors contradicted themselves and each other, or something. Sorry to be so vague -- maybe I'll go to the amazon website, read the reviews, and edit this message!

[BarbaraL]

Okay . . . here are a few of the reviews of the Rosie Daley/ Andrew Weil book. But some people liked it too, so, to each his own . . .

(1)I have never seen a cookbook with more errors and omissions in it. There are missing instructions and the spices are completely out of balance on every recipe I have tried. Clearly there was too much time spent on the presentation (pretty photos and layout) and not enough on the substance

(2)While I have tried and enjoyed two recipes from this book (Santa Fe Chicken; Bean Thread Noodles with Mango, Corn and Tofu), I have to agree with the other reviewers about some serious flaws. First, many of the recipes are quite high in fat and calories. Though much of it may be "good" fat (monounsaturated), it's still a whole lotta fat. Second, flaws in the directions are annoying. The chicken in the Santa Fe Chicken recipe needed to be cooked much longer than stated and got tough on the outside (though it tasted fabulous). The bean thread noodles in another recipe did not soften up after being soaked for 20 minutes in the somewhat vague "hot water" specified in the recipe. After I added boiling water, they softened instantly. I still plan to use the cookbook, but I'll probably have to work through the recipes' flaws first. And many of the recipes are simply out of the question, due to their high fat/calorie content

(3) The number of meat and dairy recipes in this book make the title an absolute misrepresentation. Chicken -- though most doctors aren't telling their patients this, and I don't know why Weil isn't either -- has as much saturated fat and cholesterol as beef -- even if the chicken is skinless. Shrimp (used for a few recipes) tops beef in terms of cholesterol, and dairy products are high up there in both saturated fat and cholesterol. If you want a healthy cookbook, try "The Peaceful Palate" by Jennifer Raymond -- easy, delicious, low-fat, and cholesterol-free. *That's* "a healthy kitchen."

[Lisa W]

ClaraB & Natasha - Cow's ice cream is SOOOOOOO yummy, isn't it?! There is nothing like a Cow's ice cream in a chocolate dipped waffle cone on a hot day in July! :D Mind you, I do live in PEI so I may be a little prejudice! ;)

[Jewel]

I think Oprah has finally accomplished what I still strive for: Self acceptance. It's obvious that she loves food and cooking way too much to ever maintain a low weight, so she has come to the conclusion that as long as she's healthy and can look good in her clothes, she's content. She exercises regularly with her personal trainer, and is very toned and fit. Frankly, that's the attitude that I wish I could sustain for myself. :( I'm on an endless quest for diet products, fitness products, and that magic pill that will take the weight off and keep it off. I hate looking in the mirror, refuse to go anywhere near a camera, and video camcorders make me run screaming. I wish that I could finally get it through my head that I'll never be thin, and that if I did reach a low weight, I would probably not be able to maintain it. My husband looks at me like he's looking at Faith Hill, I'm fairly healthy, and I'm working on finally trying to put exercise into my routine. I should probably just accept myself and try to enjoy life, but I can't get past it.

In my opinion, Oprah has it all, and I don't mean money and fame. She started out in extreme poverty and endured sexual and emotional abuse that would cripple most people. She got an education and then never let her goals slip away from her. She pushed and fought her way to the top, but never forgot where she came from. She tried every diet imaginable, and then finally got into those skinny jeans years ago! But you could tell that even though she looked wonderful, she wasn't happy. She was having to change her lifestyle and her love of food so much to maintain that 130 lbs that she didn't feel it was living.

I admire Oprah Winfrey for finally accepting herself the way she is, and realizing that life is too short to not enjoy it along the way. She's fit, she's healthy, she's got a great career, a wonderful man, and some true friends. If she can do it at a size 14 and be proud of herself, maybe she can help me do it too. ;)

[CherylO]

Barbara,

White meat chicken is usually lower in saturated fat than beef. 0.9 g/3 oz. versus 2.4 g/3 ounces of cooked top sirloin. Lean beef is a healthy choice as is chicken. It's all about making healthy choices consistently. Now shrimp has cholesterol as all animal products do and you are right, a 3 oz. portion has about 166 mg (who eats 3 oz.???) and a 3 oz. portion of beef tenderloin or pork tenderloin has about 70 mg cholesterol. But remember it's the saturated fat that raises blood cholesterol levels more so than cholesterol.

Dairy products can be low in fat and saturated fat if consuming low fat or non fat cheeses and milk.
Just had to jump in there with the nutrition facts!

Cheryl:)

[JHolcomb]

Originally posted by CherylO
Barbara,

White meat chicken is usually lower in saturated fat than beef. 0.9 g/3 oz. versus 2.4 g/3 ounces of cooked top sirloin. Lean beef is a healthy choice as is chicken. It's all about making healthy choices consistently. Now shrimp has cholesterol as all animal products do and you are right, a 3 oz. portion has about 166 mg (who eats 3 oz.???) and a 3 oz. portion of beef tenderloin or pork tenderloin has about 70 mg cholesterol. But remember it's the saturated fat that raises blood cholesterol levels more so than cholesterol.

Dairy products can be low in fat and saturated fat if consuming low fat or non fat cheeses and milk.
Just had to jump in there with the nutrition facts!

Cheryl:)

Thank you so much for those facts.
And I'm not a big fan of Oprah (and I'd love to smack to crap out of Dr.Phil) but I think she looks so beautiful and put together these days. I actually think she looks prettier when she's a little heavier---maybe it's because she's happier? Anyway, I think one of the most beautiful women in the world is Queen Latifah and she is a large woman who is obviously very cool with her weight.

[BarbaraL]

Cheryl, thanks for the information. However, please be clear that the comments/reviews I listed weren't MY comments, they were reviews I copied from amazon.com. I didn't intend to endorse them; I was just surprised that the book got so many bad reviews.

[Pat]

Must chime in and say that Graeters has my vote for best ice cream. I love ice cream and when I visited my DD and family in Ohio the first time, guess where they took dear ole mom. Thankfully, they have expanded into the Louisville, Lexington areas and I can get more frequent fixes for my addiction. Good thing as my DD may be moving.

[kendra]

Wow! I am frequently in Cincinnati since it is an hour from my house. I'd better put this on my list of things to do in Cinti!

[hendsl]

Graeters is the best! As a lifelong Cincinnati resident I was weaned on this stuff! Raspberry Chip is to die for (Mocha Chip isn't too bad either)
This stuff is so rich that you actually have a coating of butterfat on your tongue.

[lisas3575]

Winfrey's Plug Boosts Ice Cream Sales
The Associated Press
Jun 5 2002 7:13AM
CINCINNATI (AP) - Business always gets brisk for the Graeter's ice cream company when summer arrives. But it improved dramatically after Oprah Winfrey announced on television that she likes the Graeter's product.

"This is the best ice cream I've ever tasted," Winfrey said on her show Thursday.

The telephones began ringing at the Cincinnati-based company, which has stores in Columbus, northern Kentucky and Lexington and Louisville, Ky. Callers wanted to order the ice cream that Winfrey said she craves.

By Friday morning, Graeter's had received 450 ice cream orders through its phone line and Web site. By Monday, it had received more than 700 orders.

Normally, the company might have received 75 orders during that period, executive vice president Rich Graeter said. "This is the kind of mail-order business we usually get during the holidays.''

Company officials were told that Winfrey first tasted Graeter's ice cream last year, when a friend gave her a gift pack for Christmas.

Two weeks ago, one of Winfrey's producers called to ask for a shipment to serve to the audience at her Chicago studios during a show on summer food. Graeter said he oversaw the shipment of 10 gallons of vanilla and a pint each of the company's 24 flavors to Winfrey's studios - but he missed the show on which it was featured.

06/05/02 07:11 EDT

[Mandy]

Yeah, Graeter's ice cream is pretty good.

But I really try to stay away from it. They sell it at our Kroger, and if I buy a pint of Raspberry Chip...oh boy, I can't keep out of it! I actually have a Graeter's store about a half mile down from my office. :p

[greysangel]

(and I'd love to smack to crap out of Dr.Phil)

THANK YOU!!!! Finally someone who agrees with me!!! :D :D :D

I have mixed feelings on Oprah, but for the most part it's all good...she helps a lot of people and I believe she is finally happy with herself and in the end that's what counts.

I guess my little "irk" if you will is the effect that people like Oprah and Rosie have on the "masses". That ice cream co. article just proves it. They have a lot of power to influence the general public. I didn't see the show so I have no idea whether she was referring to this cookbook as a healthy alternative or not. She doesn't have to endorse only healthy things, but a spade should be called a spade. Does that make sense?

Dr. Phil is a very wealthy man because Oprah endorses him. I know a lot of people like him and everyone has a different thing that works for them, but IMO Dr. Phil is no psychological genius...he's my mother except balder. Not everyone responds to a kick in the teeth and hearing someone "tell it like it is".

I remember being sick one day and watching Rosie and she was talking about Weight Watchers and how she just started it. She then went on to talk about how ridiculous it was to limit herself to a small portion. While I understand she was joking about herself, I couldn't help but think how many people would be turned off from even trying Weight Watchers just by her one flip comment.

JeAnne

[krhm]

Jumping in...

I didn't see the show, and I may be the only freak in the world who doesn't like ice cream, so I don't have much to contribute here, except that I echo everything Jewel said. Jewel, that could have been my post, except that I'm not usually that articulate. I too appreciate seeing Oprah happy with herself, enjoying food, working out, and taking care of herself. I find it really inspirational. Too many other "super stars" have been destoyed by the weight game, or made by the weight game (I remember reading an article about Jennifer Anniston a long time ago where she said agents never looked at her until she lost 30 pounds, even though she was at a normal weight). It is not in my physical make-up to ever be a size 4 without truly starving myself, and I'm not willing to do that. But it is hard to accept what nature has given you when you constantly get hit in the face with media images of the perfect, thin body.

This hit home very hard the other day after my daughter asked me if she was too fat. She is 5 years old, and I want her to be healthy and fit and happy, not constantly struggling to fit an image that her body might not allow her to have. So if Oprah stays a happy, healthy, strong and fit size 14, then I think that is great! It's a nice thing to see for a change, even if it does mean that she may not be promoting any more light cookbooks!

[Jewel]

Originally posted by greysangel
Dr. Phil is a very wealthy man because Oprah endorses him. I know a lot of people like him and everyone has a different thing that works for them, but IMO Dr. Phil is no psychological genius...he's my mother except balder. Not everyone responds to a kick in the teeth and hearing someone "tell it like it is".

JeAnne, I agree with you up to a point...right down to the mother comment! :o I used to wonder what was so great about Dr. Phil until I saw several shows where he really got through to some people. We are all so terrified of offending someone else that we rarely speak our minds. Dr. Phil will at least take the little red cherry off the top and say "You're wrong" and not care if he offends you. This obviously works for some, but obviously not all. I also think that's why he calls himself a 'Life Strategist' instead of a psychologist. He has his own ways of getting through to people. That is HIS strategy...however I am waiting for someone to tell him "That's not my strategy but thanks for your input". I enjoy watching when he's on, but I look at it as entertainment more than a learning experience.

[lorilei]

Yes -- why is it that I'm simultaneously revoted and attracted to Dr. Phil???

I respect his "tell it like it is" attitude, but for some reason he grates on my nerves.

It's one of the mysteries of the Universe, I suppose.

[kima]

Glad to hear that I am not the only one who doesn't care for Dr. Phil. The guy is such a know it all-and what he says is simply common sense. I can't imagine what his ego is like. People who feel like they are perfect and dispense advice with that holier than thou attitude drive me crazy. But he is laughing all the way to the bank.
Oh and Oprah's fitness guy- have you ever looked at his book- he says nothing original or unique-just whats been said for years by others. But he is good looking and had the supreme good luck of hooking up with Oprah. I do like Oprah-just don't like the "guru" aspect of her persona.:)