Fat

Let me see if I understand. Medical researchers at Harvard University followed a couple of hundred thousand nurses for as long as 35 years and came to the remarkable conclusion that, though we all gain weight as we age, potatoes — french fries and potato chips, in particular — will cause us to gain more weight. And, in other ground-breaking news from the study, watching television also causes you to gain more weight. I am not sure where to go with this. Except to say that the real headline might be that desserts don't cause you to gain nearly as much weight as you think.

Almost anyone engaged in the battle of the bulging midsection knows that French fries are not their friends. But the real shocker in the study of long-term weight gain that came out of Harvard this week was that eating too many spuds of any kind — even plain old baked potatoes — could make you heavier. Every additional serving of potatoes that people added to a regular diet each day was connected to an average weight gain of about a one pound over four years. That is not a ton of weight gain, but as the study published Thursday in The New England Journal of Medicine points out, it adds up over time.

Scents of savory sausage, freshly cooked pancakes and hot coffee emanated from the church hall at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Rosedale for the annual Shrove Tuesday dinner. Many of the guests donned colorful beads and masks. Like diners at Christian congregations throughout the area, the crowd of about 200 at Prince of Peace dug into steamy stacks, smothered in maple syrup and melting butter — the typical Fat Tuesday meal and the last festive dinner before Lent begins.

Among the latest no-nos for healthy eating, the federal government said Monday that Americans should consume less salt in an effort to lower their risk of high blood pressure and a host of other chronic diseases. People should limit their intake to about one teaspoon of sodium daily, according to dietary guidelines released from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. That figure should be even lower for people 51 and older, African-Americans, or anyone with high blood pressure, diabetes or kidney disease — a group that is about half the U.S. population.

A Lexington Market carry-out has been fined for alleged violations of Baltimore's curb on the use of trans fats by local food facilities. The Healthy Choice store, at 400 W. Lexington St., received a $100 environmental citation, the first enforcement action since the ban took effect in September 2009. Health Department inspectors in July found the store using margarine containing 3 grams of trans fat per serving, according to Juan Gutierrez, assistant commissioner for environmental health.

Campaign signs have likely been around since Eve convinced Adam to endorse the Apple ticket, but it's really taken the 21 s t century residents of Baltimore County to perfect the next big thing: the lawsuit over political signs. Gentle readers will recall that the county's crackdown on an oversized yard sign promoting Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s campaign for governor caused its owner to sue earlier this year. A judge subsequently ruled that the county acted within its power.

Nag!, Nag! Nag! Apparently Health Magazine, which called Smith Island Cake one of the nation's 50 fattest foods, wants us to have no fun. Figuring that the summer is a time for travel and indulgent eating, the magazine picked a dish from each of the 50 states that could be bad for you. The choices were high in calories, loaded with fat, or served in gigantic portions. Smith Island Cake, recently named by the legislature as the official Maryland dessert, was the Free State's contribution to the list.

Sponsored by the Learn to Live program of the Anne Arundel County Department of Health, educators will answer questions on nutrition and distribute free low-fat recipes. Graul's, 607 Taylor Ave., Annapolis: noon to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m to 3 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 28.

F at Tuesday is a day I support in a two-fisted manner, with both of my fists covered with powdered sugar. The idea behind Fat Tuesday, or in French, Mardi Gras, is that sinners get one last day of indulgence before facing 40 days of mortification, also known as Lent. I have always been keen on the indulgence aspect of this transaction and pretty feeble on the mortification. Among the foods that shout "pleasure binge," doughnuts lead the chorus. The prime example of a Fat Tuesday doughnut is a beignet.