BBC Focus Magazine

[nemisis39]

Whilst at work today a memnber of staff commented on the size of the baking potates we had in, saying that due to its size (about 500g) he would not be able to eat it all. What struck me was, ok he might not be able to eat all of it as a baked potato, but if it was peeled and turned into chips he would.

Why is that as it would still be the same volume of potato .

Is it physcological or diffrent because of the way the potato is cooked

[M Paul Lloyd]

Psychology must play a part and a large part at that.

Yes a whole half kilo baked potato seems like a lot but then, lets face it, baked potato is terminally boring and it is only what one add to it that turns it from so much pappy mush into something worth eating . Of course the 'filling' (butter, cheese, ham, beans, Chilli, chicken tikka masala or whatever) adds to the calories and thus a humble baked tatty is effectively tripled in calories whilst a half kilo of chips is possibly only doubled and actually the healthier option.

I may also equates to being presented with a half kilo box of chocolates and a half kilo bar of chocolate.

[Shadowwolf]

Chips being broken up look like a whole lot less than one single lump; tis in the mind.

[The Beige Avenger]

....try eating 500 g of crisps... they are broken down even more but i think you'll find that's more of a challenge than one tatty.

It's got to come down to a caouple of factors: texture, flavour, appearance.

So, we have the smallness = good!

Chips have a delicious texture either crunchy on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside (more dehydrated than mash or baked tatty!) or soft on the outside and fluffy in the middle. I mean, some chips are very fluffy compared with others.

and flavour... i don't need to tell all how awesome chips are. Clart them in vinegar and a wee pinch of salt... mmmmmm.... maybe some broon sass too.

And... i'd easily get rid of 500 g of potato providing it is cooked, in almost any guise.... crisps would be the biggest challenge just because they are so fatty or too dry.

[nemisis39]

I may also equates to being presented with a half kilo box of chocolates and a half kilo bar of chocolate.

i could eat both in one sitting , to be very honest i once ate a 2kg bar of cadbury's dairly milk (don't think they do them anymore ) whilst watch indiana jones and the temple of doom and think nothing of eating a family sized choclate trifle (extra specil one's are the best by the way ), whilst a 500g pack of crisps chicken and thyme flavour would pose no problem at all, and before anyone asks i weight 10 stone 7 pounds and have done for the past 20 to 30 years give or take a couple of pounds, and mmm chips cooked in beef fat with lashings of salt, pepper and vinger now im hungry

Anyhow back to the question in hand i agree with shadow it has to be a mind thing, although i did think along the lines of the quantity of starch and carbs in the helping, would that change if it was cooked in a diffrent manner ie: fried or boiled or baked

[The Beige Avenger]

much more sweetness in chips as you are caramelising the outside and introducing nummy fat and there is a lot more outside for chips than there is for one baked potato.

[Shadowwolf]

...maybe some broon sass too.

Now that's just wrong; mayo.

[nemisis39]

...maybe some broon sass too.

Now that's just wrong; mayo.

nope your both wrong has to be salad cream

[The Beige Avenger]

it's all good!

Embrace sauce equality of independant awesome

[Shadowwolf]

I'll take your word on the broon

[M Paul Lloyd]

Did you know that both brown and red tomato sauces are made from tomatoes??

I'll get me coat.

[The Beige Avenger]

do you mean "broon" and "reid" sass?

Americans don't have brown sauce! The closest they have is "steak sauce" (from wiki)

Brown sauce is traditionally eaten with meals and dishes such as full breakfasts, bacon sandwiches or chips and baked beans. Around Edinburgh a combination of spirit vinegar and brown sauce, known simply as "sauce" or "chippie sauce", is popular on fish and chips.

mmmmm chippie sauce....

I'm too far north, we do salt and vinegar here not salt and sauce.

Gawd i'm hungry

[M Paul Lloyd]

Gawd i'm hungry

Serves you right.

[Liam Sheppard]

amateurs!

Ketchup or mayo for chips,

ketchup for bacon

Brown sauce for sausages..

Chips are cooked in fat which is ADDICTIVE.. also all other factors mentioned earlier no doubt contribute, i have thought about that too..

[The Beige Avenger]

I don't know about "addicitve" but certain sugars and fats have narcotic effects.

I often feel chilled out and quite content after some ice cream... fortunately it is still legal in the nanny state.

[nemisis39]

i remember reading somewhere that prongles have an ingrediant in the flavourings they use that is addictive hence the slogan once you pop you can't stop and it has to be brown sauce on bacon butties its the law

i remember a cafe in southport (its still there as far as i know ) used to do a breakfast which consisted of fried eggs, bacon, sasuage, blackpudding, fried tomato's all layered between 4 slices of fried bread cost £1.50 and was called the heart attack brekkie can't thing why but i can tell you this was a great hangover cure thats for sure