Before the McMuffin!

That lovely sandwich you see there is a Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato Sandwich!  Yummo!  This morning while at Denny's for breakfast, I had a craving for a BLT with a fried egg on it.  It always takes me back about 40 years when I eat one of these.  At my second job in Washington, D.C. back in 1967, I worked downtown on 17th and K streets.  I lived about 40 miles out of town, and it always seemed too early for breakfast when I rose to dress and leave for work.  I was extremely happy there was a tiny deli type shop on one of the floors of the building where I worked.  I was happy because, if I timed it just right I could get there in just enough time to have a BLT on whole wheat with a hard fried egg and a cup of hot coffee before starting work each day.

I have good memories of those days.  I was young and healthy and really enjoyed those sandwiches.  It just seemed to get my day off to a great start.  Those were the days before the McMuffin!  Now, I don't have anything against the McMuffin per se, but it just isn't the same as a perfectly made BLT with nice fresh tomatoes, lettuce and crispy bacon and that freshly fried egg...sigh.  I didn't have to count calories back in those days.  The BLT is actually the second most popular sandwich in the USA!  I was kind of worried about the calories in the sandwich, but after checking it out I was surprised to find if made on whole grain bread, it only has about 180 calories, compared to the egg McMuffin which has about 300!

That sounds like a pretty good argument for keeping my BLT habit alive and well.  Fast food has been the downfall of the American diet.  Much of the obesity problems we are experiencing in this country today can be attributed to the fast food/drive thru experience.  So, if you would like to be more healthy and have less calories, yet have a delicious way to start the day - start it with a BLT.  Cook some bacon ahead and have it in the fridge for quick access.  Toast a couple slices of nice whole grain bread.  Slice a fresh tomato and pull off a piece of lettuce...there ya go...you can even have a "little" mayo and some salt and pepper and still be under 200 calories for all.  It is satisfying, healthy and will give you just the get up and go you need to start a perfect day.  Ah, for the days before the Egg McMuffin!