Chew on this: what Republican presidential hopefuls are eating
You may know where the Republican presidential candidates stand on certain political issues, but do you know what their strengths and weaknesses are when it comes to food?
Did you know that Newt Gingrich has a weakness for ice cream? Or that Ron Paul can’t live without his salads?
What candidates eat on the campaign trail has long symbolized how politicians connect with voters, but a grueling presidential race doesn't always leave time for culinary politicking.
Fox News political contributor Joe Trippi knows a thing or two about candidates’ eating habits, having traveled around with several of them.
“One of the problems of being on the trail,” he says, “is you never know when you are going to eat again. You are at the mercy of whatever the event is, like the Iowa State Fair. A lot of them have their own habits and even if they want to try and eat well and healthy, it's near impossible.” The state fair is notorious for deep-frying any and everything.
Georgia Pellegrini, author of the new book Girl Hunter: Revolutionizing the way we eat, one hunt at a time (Da Capo Press), says the often calorie-filled meals the candidates consume may also be the result of how tired they are.
“They’ve had little sleep and are craving energy,” she says. As they travel around the country, candidates also must try out the local delicacies. “These meals also reflect that the candidates are trying to connect with the communities they are campaigning in, by eating at the local diner and BBQ fare,” Pellegrini says.
These meals often remind us how impossible it is to separate politicking from eating and how it can become part of the debate.
Take for instance, Ron Paul’s slender build. Trippi says Paul, who also is a medical doctor, “may have a disadvantage because he doesn’t look presidential.” But on the flip side, Trippi says people are used to seeing Newt Gingrich’s hefty build, so it may not matter to them if he eats ice cream and isn’t seen working out.
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A producer following his campaign before the Iowa caucuses witnessed this firsthand at a stop in front of Adam's Espresso & Soda Shoppe in Creston. Gingrich's wife, Callista, was given the opportunity to make a frosty beverage.
It's sweet enough to keep kids happy and is a healthy snacking alternative. If you want to feed the birds on the waterfront, get a large bag of old slices for a little more. (Casey McNerthney/seattlepi.com) Market Bagels isn't technically in the Pike