Post diner food coma

It seems that just about everyone over the age of 50 is on some kind of medicine for high blood pressure where I come from. That would be Merrick, Long Island. In my recent visit home something happened that made me a little nervous, but later made sense. After eating in one of the numerous diners I became lethargic, suffered severe dry mouth and blurred vision. After ruling out diabetes it dawned on me - the food I ate was some of the saltiest and fattiest food on the Planet.

The American diner is not a heart healthy institution, but it spots America more than the Evergreen. From train car nostalgia to Greek and Polish diners you can get staple plates like Cheeseburgers and fries, American cheese omelets, pancakes and grilled cheese sandwiches. Depending on where in America you are you'll find local specialties like scrapple and cheese steaks in Philly or biscuits and gravy throughout the South.

Don't get me wrong. I love diners, but I guess I've been away long enough to have lowered my tolerance for the post diner food coma. Most of what I eat these days is home cooked using fresh ingredients and getting the most out of the flavor without using a ton of sodium. I just know that the next time I visit my parents I should go lightly or expect to be out of commission for a few hours. I avoid them for the most part in Manhattan though, because I know I'll hit them on the Island. And why visit Manhattan and hit diners?? Maybe special ones like Good Enough to Eat on Amsterdam and 82nd where it's all fresh and not too heavy or Veselka's diner on 2nd Ave and 9th Street where you can get all your Eastern European delicacies.