tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489825674468647913.post5177884164501953150..comments2024-01-26T07:30:31.571+01:00Comments on Kielbasa Stories: Why are Americans so fat?Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05384854442041889558noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489825674468647913.post-55126969376689487952016-08-08T09:34:50.063+02:002016-08-08T09:34:50.063+02:00Hi Christine! Don't worry about commenting on ...Hi Christine! Don't worry about commenting on older posts. I get notifications. I'm from the boondocks of Pennsylvania so despite the fact that my hometown has a small population, it would have taken over an hour to walk to school. However, riding a bike wasn't even considered as an option, and we all had cars by 16 anyhow, right? We live part-time in a big city and part-time in a village of 500 people. We have several store options downstairs from our apartment as well as grocery stores within walking distance. I wouldn't want to walk all the way to IKEA for example, but I wouldn't have to as IKEA provides a free bus. Or I could go on the regular bus. Or I could go in my hybrid car...I get free parking in the city :) Gasoline costs twice as much as in the States. My village has one shop. It does a swift business. The next town is 7 km away with a bus twice a day. It's hardly worth it for folks who don't have a car, however, many folks ride their bikes into town to do the shopping - even elderly people.<br /><br />City walk ability and ride ability are very important things here. I have found myself in the US unable to cross the road in my small hometown from the gas station to the supermarket because it is just not allowed. There is no crosswalk and no break in the traffic lights for a person to cross on foot. <br /><br />Soda is widely available and often cheaper than water, but many people drink it as a rare treat. Poles have seen the example set by America and are trying to prevent such things happening here. Poland is getting fatter though. This I can see since I started living here especially in kids. That's why my kids walk to school and back and ride their bikes every weekend. These are small choices I hope will pay off in healthy habits in the end.<br /><br />Thanks for reading Christine and I hope you find your way back to Poland. If you're feeling Poland-sick, check out Kielbasa Stories on Instagram for some pics. Take care.<br /><br />Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05384854442041889558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489825674468647913.post-61683045715154098412016-08-08T00:58:38.124+02:002016-08-08T00:58:38.124+02:00Ok, this is an older post but I am going to chime ...Ok, this is an older post but I am going to chime in anyway. <br /><br />I just came back from Poland and part of the problem in the USA is lack of exercise. Every day we were in Poland we walked at least 5 miles. One day it was over 10. In the USA we have to drive everywhere or choose to drive. Soda wasn't real easy to find but water was everywhere. Well, water and alkohole, LOL. Anyway, I agree with the poor diet thing. I ate like a queen in Poland and despite all that walking didn't gain or lose any weight. I did gain a huge appreciation for a walkable city or one with very nice public transit! Here in the boondocks of Wisconsin you NEED a car as the closet grocery is 25 miles away.<br /><br />I just happened upon your blog. I fell in love with Poland and plan to return. It will be fun to read your adventures.Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02810816389048428497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489825674468647913.post-89815648915335293272012-06-27T22:02:30.018+02:002012-06-27T22:02:30.018+02:00Perhaps because Poles eat 4 meals a day of fresh f...Perhaps because Poles eat 4 meals a day of fresh food they just snack less in general (I do find that the snacks in Poland are just as unhealthy, but you just don't snack as often there). And of course, in America, it's all about variety. The cracker aisle is the cracker aisle because Americans demand variety. And their is a culture to provide it.<br /><br />And Poles in general walk more, of course. <br /><br />You will find that America is somewhat divided between the thin and the fat because of diet. It's true. Some people are just fat because of diet and overall we are a fast food, prepackaged food society. It's pretty gross. But if you eat dinner with the "thin" people, you'll often find none of those things present, and none of the food processed or pre-packaged...it's just more expensive to live that way.<br /><br />I am looking forward to real food actually costing less for a change.<br /><br />p.s. I will say though that Poles are pretty attached to their juice and soda. You find juice and soda in every fridge, usually a variety. And anytime they are drinking together it is very rarely water. Compot (sp?) maybe, juice or soda, never water at dinner. My kids load up on juice whenever we visit...so much sugar, even natural sugar! We never have juice in our house because I dont like paying money for orange sugar or whatever they are trying to sell, but in Poland it is everywhere! I am looking forward to making our own juice from our own fruit though!oliviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13371993808242884849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489825674468647913.post-6209577570665855222011-05-28T23:24:00.031+02:002011-05-28T23:24:00.031+02:00Hi Lois B - Welcome and thanks for joining us. I w...Hi Lois B - Welcome and thanks for joining us. I was happy to link up with you. If you ever get down our way, let me know :)<br /><br />Chris<br /><br />Blogger is still messed up so that's why I am anonymous on my own blog :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489825674468647913.post-34364038828505210232011-05-28T09:59:11.179+02:002011-05-28T09:59:11.179+02:00Oh, yes, I should also say thanks for linking to m...Oh, yes, I should also say thanks for linking to my blog.Lois Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03560321506489546079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489825674468647913.post-43374570668213316242011-05-28T09:58:43.604+02:002011-05-28T09:58:43.604+02:00As I was reading through this post, I was wonderin...As I was reading through this post, I was wondering if you'd mention that we drive EVERYWHERE! One of the things I love about living in Poland is the public transportation, and that usually involves a little walking too.Lois Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03560321506489546079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489825674468647913.post-37572380519693692612010-02-09T21:42:55.309+01:002010-02-09T21:42:55.309+01:00Hi b and welcome. I think Americans have the infor...Hi b and welcome. I think Americans have the information but they just don't know what to do with it. Kind of like when I took out a mortgage. Everything was there in the contract but I needed a financial advisor to explain it to me. <br /><br />We've noticed the bad food habits coming this way too. Whenever we see some kids coming home from school with a bag of chips in one hand and a cola in the other we say, Hey look! American kids ;)<br /><br />We live in Lower Silesia supposedly the warmest part of Poland but I'm not feeling it.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05384854442041889558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489825674468647913.post-11372887267233381352010-02-09T20:07:47.527+01:002010-02-09T20:07:47.527+01:00I am just working my way through your blog (came h...I am just working my way through your blog (came here from Stardust), which I love, so you will see comments left here and there :)<br /><br />I don't agree with you that the "American consumers have the most information probably of any food shoppers in the world." I think they are misled, deceived and lied to, and also brainwashed by advertising. look at MSG - all food is packed with it, but how often do you see it listed as an ingredient? you still do in Poland. <br /><br />but, I am pretty sure it's coming to Poland. I remember in 2003 when I visited Poland with my husband, it took us a week to find someone bigger than us (respectively). it's not taking that long anymore, and I haven't lost that much weight neither :)<br /><br />on the other hand, I would love to find out which part of Poland do you live in? maybe one of your further posts is about it but if it is, i haven't read it yet.b.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16363952679340073827noreply@blogger.com