Of
Werner Bartens
When it comes to lust and vice, the little sins and the big temptations, people have always been good at sugarcoating their behavior. But lately, sumptuous meals and festive dinners have been increasingly valued morally. Severe blackheads – like their own offspring – now judge how healthy and sustainable the menu is. It’s hard to swallow at times, but fortunately there are a few eternal truths from the kitchen that can be used to justify what’s on the table or why dessert, the cheese board and the finishing touches are a must for a long meal . But do folk wisdom, popular dining rules and well-cultivated nutritional myths stand up to scientific scrutiny? “There are surprisingly few serious scientific studies on many of these questions and claims,” says Hans Hauner from the Technical University of Munich. It doesn’t help. You can still go in search of clues with the experienced nutritionist – in time for the holidays.