Disappointment for shrinking Jews everywhere

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LittleSister
LittleSister Posts: 207 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Latke alert!

So I spend an entire day cooking latkes up for the week of Chanukah. Today is the day (for non-Jews, Chanukah is really early this year.) I like to freeze them and then bake them a little in the oven before serving them later. And we're hosting a Chanukah party next weekend.

Anyway, of course, one must user-test the latkes before cooking too many, right? We have to make sure we have the recipe right, have the amount of salt right, have the onion-to-potato ratio right, etc.

I just ate my first latke, and it was heavenly. Just to make absolutely sure it was heavenly, I ate a second one. Then I went to log my latkes. I just ate 566 calories of latkes!

Wow, last year, I probably had 5 latkes in one sitting.

I'm sure there are healthier latke recipes out there, and I guess I'll have to find them. But they're just unbelievably delicious just the way they are. *sigh*

(By the way, we're pretty secular, and although we don't celebrate Christmas in our house, we get invited to lots of Christmas parties, and we happily eat our way through all of them.)
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Replies

  • chatondoux
    chatondoux Posts: 38
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    It's really baffling to me how much, and happily sometimes how little, calories and sodium are in foods I used to eat all the time without even thinking twice. Really eye opening :( I've never had a latke before what are they like?
  • tibby531
    tibby531 Posts: 717 Member
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    mmm, holiday food. :)

    I console myself with saying, "yeah, I had two or three, but the old me would have had them ALL and bitten anyone who tried to take any of them from me." this is a lifestyle change, and we're all better for it. :)
  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 7,703 Member
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    Potato pancakes are just so divine. I'm guessing it was worth the splurge.
  • pandorakick
    pandorakick Posts: 901 Member
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    I know what you mean... Made myself one serving of eggnog the other day, less sugar and only milk - no cream. Still clocked in at 309 kcal for the one mug. Was really delicious though! :drinker:
  • zoeysasha37
    zoeysasha37 Posts: 7,088 Member
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    Happy Chanukah!! (I may have spelled it wrong) :-).anyway yes it's amazing to see how many calories are in the foods we used to love and eat much of!! I used to eat these lovely buttery biscuits with dinner, one day when I first started logging,I logged it all up and it came to 498!! Per biscuit!!! I used to eat 2/3 at a time!! Lol
  • zornig
    zornig Posts: 336 Member
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    I know what you mean, but I feel as though a really well-made latke is at least worth the calorie splurge. I never feel cheated after a latke, unlike fast food or something else high calorie like that. Not to mention: Chanukah comes but once a year!
  • vvvalentines
    vvvalentines Posts: 151
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    It's really baffling to me how much, and happily sometimes how little, calories and sodium are in foods I used to eat all the time without even thinking twice. Really eye opening :( I've never had a latke before what are they like?

    Ever had one of those McDonald's "hash browns?" Now imagine one cooked by God, served in Heaven, with sour cream and applesauce on the side. That's a latke.
  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,209 Member
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    Cheese Blintzes and sour cream! OH NOES!!1!
  • LittleSister
    LittleSister Posts: 207 Member
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    It's really baffling to me how much, and happily sometimes how little, calories and sodium are in foods I used to eat all the time without even thinking twice. Really eye opening :( I've never had a latke before what are they like?

    Ever had one of those McDonald's "hash browns?" Now imagine one cooked by God, served in Heaven, with sour cream and applesauce on the side. That's a latke.

    Ermergerd, chatondoux, I think valentinesdre's description is the best!!!!!

    And there are 100's of variations on latkes, but I make mine very basically. But I like to go a little heavy on the onions and pepper. I get raves every year when I serve them.
  • foodiscomplicated
    foodiscomplicated Posts: 85 Member
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    Oye!
  • hastingsmassage
    hastingsmassage Posts: 162 Member
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    I like them so much, my mum us to make them with bit of garlic...:)
  • doctorsookie
    doctorsookie Posts: 1,084 Member
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    did you enter you own personal recipe into the database here on MFP and put in the number of servings your recipe produced? I have done this in the past and discovered the calories in MY particular food item was considerably LESS than items listed in MFP. Try it and see if you get lucky.
  • doctorsookie
    doctorsookie Posts: 1,084 Member
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    It's really baffling to me how much, and happily sometimes how little, calories and sodium are in foods I used to eat all the time without even thinking twice. Really eye opening :( I've never had a latke before what are they like?

    Ever had one of those McDonald's "hash browns?" Now imagine one cooked by God, served in Heaven, with sour cream and applesauce on the side. That's a latke.
    Must have McDonald's hash brown with sour cream...now!
  • HRLaurie614
    HRLaurie614 Posts: 260 Member
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    Mmmm...are you a sour cream or applesauce (or both) kind of girl? It's a mitzvah (good deed) to eat things cooked in oil on hanukah. And, if it's a mitzvah, the calories shouldn't count! :)

    Anyway, happy hanukah. I can't believe the first night is the day before Thanksgiving!!!!
  • HRLaurie614
    HRLaurie614 Posts: 260 Member
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    Cheese Blintzes and sour cream! OH NOES!!1!

    I just picked up some cheese blintzes this morning. I haven't had one in a few years, but when I was 8 or 9, I had them for dinner 2-3 times a week.
  • happygolucky721
    happygolucky721 Posts: 26 Member
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    I had the same revelation yesterday as I logged my latkes from a little Thanksgivingukkah bash we had. Sadly, all the traditional Jewish holiday foods are far from ideal for losing weight. But.. you know what -- who cares!?!

    It's delish. Comes once a year. And it's the miracle of oil-- so no baking the latkes! And it's tradition.

    So, go less on the sour cream. Maybe even go with the low fat sour cream. And hit the gym hard the following days. I live in the city -- so my husband and I had to walk 15 minutes and carry the 20 pounds of potatoes to our apartment. That helps too lol
  • SaraB_82
    SaraB_82 Posts: 45 Member
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    Oh man.. I'm making pumpkin sufganiyot with cranberry filling for the crazy thanksgiving/chanukah this year. I'm pretty sure I can gain a pound just by looking at them!
  • vvvalentines
    vvvalentines Posts: 151
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    For our combination Thanksgiving/Chanukah family "thing" this year, I think I'm just going to have tea and some fruit in the morning so I can pig out at dinner/
  • ilenewilliams
    ilenewilliams Posts: 48 Member
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    I did some experimenting and I cannot figure a way to make the latkes less fattening and still taste good. I despise low fat sour cream on them (yet not on other things so I know it is a head game). I plan to eat a very light breakfast and lunch, when we sit to eat I am going to log and enjoy and not freak out if I go over. I have only gone over 1X since starting 7 weeks ago so I am going to enjoy. It will be my Chanukah gift to myself! Jewish food is not weight loss friendly, but if we cut other places in our diets and exercise a little more, we can get through this.
  • MrsFowler1069
    MrsFowler1069 Posts: 657 Member
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    Yep, I'm sure you can lighten them up if you choose to. I do this with a lot of things and legitimately enjoy them. I don't do it out of guilt, but because I like having calorie-moderate options that help me meet my goals. One of my favorite things is an egg white and veggie omelet. I absolutely do not feel deprived when I eat this - it is satisfying and totally enjoyable to me.

    On the other hand, there are things I don't mess with. If I want real bacon, for instance, I eat it. I eat other things, too - sometimes I have veggie burgers (either prepared or homemade, turkey bacon/sausage, etc). I enjoy those things, too. But if real bacon is what I want, then that's okay and that's what I eat. Possibly on a cheeseburger. lol

    You'll have to decide for yourself what you can live with. "Heavenly" seems like a lot to throw out the window when you can just eat lighter a make room for it, or only eat x-amount of "heavenly," or allow yourself maintenance calories that day, or just accept that you're going to go over that day, or do extra exercise.

    You might be happy to do without on a given day, but may indulge on another. You might be happy with a lightened up version on one day, but really want the traditional version on a different day.

    The things is, this is your life. This is your "program" or whatever, but for it to be sustainable, effective, and actually enjoyable (which it can be), you'll just have to consider your options and do what you need to do for yourself and your goals. And I know you can.

    I, personally, would have to have at least one "real" one at least once during the season and then play it out from there. :wink:

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