Ask Dr. Gourmet

Doesn't your recipe for Pork Chops and Garlic Sauce contain too much fat to be healthy?

[We received this comment about our recipe for Pork Chops with Garlic Sauce.]

Since this is a healthful website, why does this entree have oil & butter? This is too high in fat content for anyone.

Dr. Gourmet Says...

This comment couldn't be more wrong.

Over the years folks have come to believe that fat is bad. It's a shame, really, but back in the dark ages of nutrition (only about 20 years ago) we thought that all fat was bad. We now know that's not true. In fact, we know that foods with ingredients that are high in monounsaturated fats are good for you.

This recipe is higher in saturated fat than some Dr. Gourmet meals, but keep in mind that eating healthy is not about a single recipe. It's about what you do over time. Making a recipe that has a teaspoon of butter per serving is just fine. Likewise, the total fat is well within a healthy range for dinner. This is, after all, a meal that is going to be served with side dishes and while the total fat may be 50% of the total calories of the main course recipe, it won't be 50% of the whole meal.

Pork is not bad for you, butter is not bad for you, olive oil is not bad for you.

Hamburger Helper is bad for you.

McDonald's is bad for you.

Making recipes for yourself using fresh, healthy ingredients is the basis of a healthy diet - not being overly restrictive.

Thanks for writing,

Timothy S. Harlan, MD, FACP, CCMS
Dr. Gourmet