Jibarra Doesn't Live Up To Potential

On a warm, spring evening you can bask in the downtown Raleigh activity while drinking one of the many margaritas Jibarra Modern Mexican & Tequila Lounge has to offer. Inside the restaurant's front doors is the bar circling a thick, large column of shelved tequila bottles on display at its center. The dining areas' dividing walls don't reach the ceiling so there's plenty of openness to see the old freight stop's heavy ceiling pipes and red brick walls throughout the low-lit room. Tall and wide windows line the front of the restaurant, but are shaded with see-through screens so you can watch the sun set over the train tracks.

Jibarra relocated to the warehouse district of downtown Raleigh in January 2009 and is housed in the Depot building (98 years old) on West Davie Street at the end of the line of several restaurants, bars and nightclubs (The Pit, Humble Pie and Ess Lounge). Its historic and busy location seems ideal given the decor and food, which is a throwback to deep-rooted, traditional Mexican recipes with a modern twist. There is so much to like about Jibarra, which is owned by the Ibarra family— owners of the El Rodeo restaurant chain throughout the city. However, the food's taste doesn't quite hold to its attractive appearance and steep price.

Jibarra mixes rustic Mexican decor with modern designs. Pottery sits on top of a shelf above a chocolate-colored, wooden rectangle table arranged with all the dining essentials and clear blue cylinder glass votives complete with glowing candles. The earthy brown tones along with the Mexican rhythms on guitar (through speakers) create a mellow, but classical feel.

You will find many citrus and spicy flavors woven throughout Jibarra's menu. It includes lunch and dinner as well as a brunch on the weekend in an effort to cater to the timing of downtown crowds. They offer a Ceviches section of four citrus seafood selections. They offer small plates (appetizers) as well as bigger versions for dinner. Prices for large dinner plates range from $12 - $25. The appetizers seem moderate in price until they arrive.

The "Tortitas de Plátano Macho" was not what I expected. Usually plantains are served as a sweet tasting dessert after they've been fried because they're caramelized by their own fruit juices. However, this dish was not sweet at all. The baked plantains stuffed with black beans was beautifully arranged on top of a large pool of dark brown mole sauce with a zigzag drizzle of crema and queso fresco (fresh cheese) sauce on a white plate. The plantains (just two) were small and blackened— enough for two people to have a few tastes, but it was neither great tasting nor enough to eat.

The outside was blackened, but not crunchy while the center was spongy and tasted similar to cornmeal. The black beans masked the plantains' taste making the dish bland. The slight tang of the sauces didn't do much to enhance it either. At $7.50, I expected a more filling and thrillingly flavored dish.

The margaritas are unique, but the cheapest starts at $8. They also have a wide selection of Spanish and South American wines. The friendly server recommended the Cucumber Margarita, which isn't featured on their online menu. This drink is a blend of El Dadito Silver Tequila, triple sec and fresh citrus with a Tajin spice and salt rim. It's garnished with thinly cut slices of cucumber. The use of Tajin gives the drink a spicy kick and creates a savory and sweet mix with the combination of cucumber and citrus. My margarita glass, decorated with a pink hibiscus flower, was quickly empty, but this had more to do with the load of ice and its small size. Bring on the second!

The Chipotle Mango Margarita was more my style. It was sweeter, which contrasted better with its spicy ingredients. This blend of Del Gollado Gold Tequila, triple sec, chipotle reduction, mango puree and fresh citrus was topped off with a raw sugar and Tajin spice rim complete with hibiscus flower. It was delicious, but, again, quickly gone. Skimpy sizes all around for drinks.

The slow-cooked, bone-in North Carolina goat comes in both a small ($12) and large dinner plate ($25). The small plate version's meat, while tasty when edible, did not fall off the bone and fell short of my expectations. It was my first taste of goat, which had a small amount of mild and tender meat, but most bites were too chewy.

This dish comes with "potato confit" (three thin, ridged slices of cooked potato), guacamole and chunky salsa "molcajeteada" (means hot, and indeed it was). Each part is to be piled into a tortilla to eat.

The guacamole was superb. I wish I had ordered that with tortilla chips as my first appetizer. I would have been in a better mood if I had eaten that first although I'm not sure if the chips are plentiful. The combinations in the goat tortilla were tasty, but the goat was just too stubborn. Also, if you're sharing, three small tortillas is not a great number.

The taquitos stuffed with Mexican barbecued chicken were a tad too crispy and came in the magic number set of three. They are served with lettuce, crema, queso fresco and "salsa borracha," which means "drunk sauce" because it's made with beer or tequila. However, the yummy toppings couldn't mask the taste of burnt taquito shell.

One dessert redeems Jibarra slightly with a twist on flan, a traditional Spanish custard dessert. They use coconut and 18-month cured cheese plated with a dollop of whipped cream and small, candied papaya squares on the side. These papaya pieces taste like flavorless caramel bits alone, but enhance the bite of flan. I'm not a big custard dessert fan, but the use of coconut really gave it a new depth of flavor. The flan was a nice surprise.

I left Jibarra feeling slightly hungry and unsatisfied— yes, after sharing three appetizers and a dessert. It appears as if the owners know Jibarra needs some tweaking. The wait service asked a number of times about the food and left behind a comment card to rate the service, food and price. I also received an e-mail asking for the same feedback since I made an online reservation. I commend them for trying and hope they adjust accordingly.

The owners would have reasons to be concerned given the turnaround of businesses in the same location. Jibarra dresses itself up for a crowd that might only come once if it doesn't give the customer more bang for the buck. There are too many other choices nearby. Jibarra clearly wants to be upscale, but the quality of food on the plate doesn't justify its pricing. It won't thrive on the nightlife crowd with its small and expensive cocktails and 11 p.m. closing time. Jibarra has some work to do if it wants to compete with other fine-dining in the area or it needs to be more reasonable with its customer expectations.

Jibarra Modern Mexican & Tequila Lounge is located at 327 W. Davie St., Suite 102, Raleigh, N.C. 27601. It is open for lunch Tuesday - Friday, 11:30 a.m.-2: 30 p.m.; dinner Tuesday - Thursday, 5-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 5-11 p.m., and Sunday, 5-9 p.m.; and brunch Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Give "Date Night" A Chance

"Date Night," directed by Shawn Levy ("Night at the Museum" and its sequel), is proof that casting can make all the difference. The plot isn’t complicated, in fact it’s somewhat predictable and preposterous, but the comedic sense and timing of its stars make it entertaining and funny.

Steve Carrell and Tina Fey play Phil and Claire Foster, who describe themselves as just another boring couple from New Jersey. They’re so exhausted from juggling two jobs and two kids that they prefer sleep to their usual date night out. Their date consists of the same dinner at the same restaurant while making fun of other couples (improv fodder for Carrell and Fey). This doesn’t bother the Fosters until their friends (played by Mark Ruffalo and Kristen Wiig) shock them with the news that they are divorcing.

Suddenly the Fosters are inspired to do something different. They dress up and head into New York City to visit one of the hottest new seafood restaurants, "The Claw, you’re welcome” is how they answer the phones. But the Fosters don’t have a reservation.

They wait at the bar for a call that won’t come until Phil decides to respond to a call for “Tripplehorn, party of two,” an apparent no-show. And that’s when their date night troubles begin.

The Fosters enjoy their evening as the Tripplehorns until a case of mistaken identity drags them into the middle of a blackmailing scheme gone wrong. This involves crooked cops, a well-known mob boss (played by Ray Liotta) and the District Attorney (William Fichtner) who has a weakness for strip clubs.  This leads the Fosters on an all-night trek around the city in search of the real Tripplehorns and the flash drive everyone is demanding be returned.

"Date Night" sounds over the top and wacky (which it is!), but it is somehow grounded by its stars who share the straight man role to the rest of the film’s crazy characters. Carrell and Fey are natural as husband and wife. Perhaps it’s because they’re married to the same network (NBC), with their own TV shows—"The Office" and "30 Rock"—airing within the same hour. Or it’s because they both come from similar comedic and writing backgrounds.

Fey is the former head writer and cast member of "Saturday Night Live" and although Carrell was never on "SNL" (he auditioned, but was never cast), his comedic roots parallel Fey’s. Before he was writing and acting in films, Carrell wrote and starred in Dana Carvey’s ("SNL" veteran) short-lived comedy sketch show on ABC and was a reoccurring reporter on Comedy Central’s "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart." Both Carrell and Fey successfully juggle family with busy careers in TV and film.

Phil Foster is wiser than Carrell’s other alter ego, Michael Scott, but is just as goofy when he’s in a tight spot. Claire is exactly like Fey's "30 Rock" character, Liz Lemon, if Liz found a husband, quit showbiz, and moved to the suburbs to sell real estate. Fey consistently casts herself as the witty, strong female type, which she portrays in "Date Night," and I hope she never stops playing this role.

It is clear both Carrell and Fey bring their own style to their characters once the end-of-the-film credit outtakes roll. Their style is what makes you willing to embark on this farcical adventure to get home safely to the kids.

Some of the funniest scenes include well-casted cameos. The best one is a toss up. When the Fosters need help, Claire remembers a former client who is a security expert that lives in the city. Phil quickly finds out why her memory is so good—Mark Walhberg plays a very buff and shirtless Grant Holbrooke. And then there’s the real “Tripplehorns”—clueless, petty thieves—played by James Franco and Mila Kunis who show the Fosters what passion is. One minute they’re bickering over how to properly blackmail someone and the next?

The dialogue is funnier than the action although it has one of the funniest strip pole dances I’ve ever seen. While I’m sure Carrell and Fey contributed bits here and there with their improv styles, the credit should go to writer Josh Klausner.   Klausner wrote for all four installments of the Shrek films ("Shrek Forever After" comes out this summer), which also explains the film’s rapid fire jokes.

So what’s the lesson? Call ahead when dining out.

But seriously, this movie is most amusing for married couples.  It’s not your traditional boy meets girl romantic comedy. In fact it’s more action than romance.  It finds the humor in marriage’s obstacles and how trust and compromise are crucial for a couple’s survival. It’s the difference between making it work or realizing you’re just “really great roommates” as the Foster’s friends discovered. This comedy's message may be relevant given the on-going media attention to famous couple breakups. (Sandra and Tiger and Larry—oh my!)

"Date Night" is a refreshingly short 88 minutes. It’s rated PG-13 for some language and sexual content—it manages to fit in the one F-bomb permitted with this rating. I guess that’s information that should have been shared with the parents who brought along their talkative toddlers to the theater. It’s not a family film.

I really enjoyed this film, but you might wait for it to come out on DVD. That or call the babysitter so you can see this comical adventure with your spouse or significant other alone. Either way, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Outing the Introverted Me

I felt unusually warm on that chilly, November morning when my Elon 101 adviser happily announced we would discuss the results of our Myers-Briggs personality tests together. Reactions in this college freshmen orientation class were mostly shrugs of indifference. Whatever. Except for me. I wanted to jump up out of my seat and shout, “Noooooo!”

But I wouldn't have done that. It's just not me.

I spent the semester listening to my peers’ tales of messy roommates who stay up too late and teachers who give unfair assignments. I shared stories of my own night-owl roomie despite my initial hesitation. I became talkative. We all shared our new student anxieties, outrage and laughs.

I felt accepted by the group, but now I feared Myers-Briggs, via my adviser, was going to label me as “shy” for another four years. You’re either an “E” for extrovert or the dreaded “I” for introvert. I knew I was no “E” and I blamed this for previous social troubles.

My classmates passed the handouts around the too-large-for-the-tiny-room table. My adviser’s instructions were muffled by the shuffle of papers along the mutter of my inner critic who was scolding me for answering the test questions so candidly the week before. I scanned the handout, which listed each personality trait description. I needed to know what words would be used to describe me.

We would start with the introverts, my adviser continued. I glanced around the table so I could capture my classmates naive expressions. Maybe some of them will be introverted too, I thought. My adviser squinted at the test chart he held in his hand as if he had he had lost his place—I hoped. There was a long pause.

In anticipation, I lowered my head to rub my right temple as if a genie would spring forth to grant me three wishes. I only needed one.

“Huh,” my adviser said in a curious tone.

To everyone’s surprise I was revealed as the lone introvert in a class of 15. My heart sank. Not a single person with whom I could exchange an understanding nod. I was on my own again. I smiled and shrugged while I stirred and secretly hated my adviser for “outing” the inner me.

I was ashamed to be an introvert, but I was wrong to feel this way. After 10 years and one book—"The Introvert Advantage: How to Thrive in an Extroverted World" by Marti Olsen Laney, PsyD (also an introvert)—I see it more clearly now.

Typically, only one out of every four people is introverted. There are advantages and disadvantages to both personality types, yet extroverted strengths are more valued because they make up the majority. They set the social standards. This makes introverts feel like they must conform to extroverted expectations, but you can’t change who you are.

And believe me, I’ve tried.

Introverts’ brains have more internal activity. They’re constantly on brain-overload so they look for ways to lessen stimulation because too much drains their energy. Extroverts are always searching for more information, which energizes them—too little activity leaves them tapped and tired. This as a major influence on how both types behave.

In high school, I was an occasional no-show during off-period gatherings in the school library and my friends would ask me about where I had been. I’d make some flimsy excuse because they were suspicious and seemed to think I was avoiding them, but I really wasn’t. I just needed some time alone.

I walked the empty halls in search of a quiet spot to work. The cafeteria was crowded with loud chatter and the occasional airborne French fry. The library was filled with whispers, shushes and giggles that lead to the librarian yelling. So I would slip away to the corner of an empty classroom.

I’d plow right through my homework with no distractions to slow me down. Then I’d just reflect, staring at the dusty chalkboard with the scribbling of lessons only partially erased. The fluorescent lights hummed to a distant voice whose lecture was just rhythmic white noise. Exhale.

During class, whenever a teacher asked me a question on the spot, my mind would race, but would instantly come up blank. I would freeze then feel humiliated and frustrated that I was so slow to respond. I would inevitably give an answer without confidence because I was unsure of my answer because I hadn't had enough time to think it through. Answers always seemed more obvious when the focus was on someone else and the class had moved on. I couldn't understand why it was so difficult. Not only do introverts need an extra moment to think, but being thrust into the spotlight makes us very uncomfortable.

This common introvert trait is often mistaken for bewilderment because extroverts think and vocalize answers so quickly. I thought my inability to think faster made me less intelligent. Introverts actually have better memory, but it takes longer to retrieve because our brains send signals on a long brain pathway. Extroverts use a short brain pathway, so their answers are always locked and loaded while we introverts are still processing.

There's another misconception that all introverts must be shy. Shyness is a social anxiety developed out of bad social experiences. It's a reflection of distrust or lack of confidence. An introvert can be shy, but it does not require it. Extroverts can be shy too, which is worse since they need more interaction to feel good.

We introverts have fewer friends. We don't make the same effort extroverts do with acquaintances who are potential new friends. Whether the extrovert makes friends or not, they still get the energizer they need. I value focused interaction and find socializing in large groups to be exhausting. So I have to conserve time spent so I don’t burn out. I talk plenty with people I know really well, but struggle with social chitchat.

Most introverts are taught they should aspire to be more like extroverts so they feel self-conscious about their natural inclinations. At a young age I was labeled as “shy” because I internalized my thoughts more than others. Eventually, I did become shy. I had gotten so use to the idea that this wasn’t "the norm" and thought people didn't like me because of it. Friends felt the need to address it all the time. I was often excluded, which was more likely a matter of being overlooked because I didn't demand as much attention.

Stuart Smalley, Al Franken's self-help character from his days on "Saturday Night Live," used to look in the mirror and calmly say, "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough and dog-gone-it, people like me."  Maybe that's something I should have done! Though Franken was poking fun, and probably not an introvert, he created a good chant for us when extroverted expectations come pouring down.

People should appreciate introverts for what they have to offer. Just think about what qualities colleges and employers seek out more— introverts are at a total disadvantage. There are many situations that would benefit from introvert perspective, but it's often lost due to the volume of extroverts who speak over them.

Introverts are good planners. We weigh all the options before reacting. We're more self-aware. What we lack in conversation we make up for in writing. We're better listeners. Who do extroverts think is listening to them all the time? Not other extroverts.  Numerous conflicts may be the result of not understanding these differences.

You don’t have to be introverted to look back on your adolescence and cringe at those socially awkward moments, but it helps. I only wish I hadn’t let people’s misunderstanding of me confine me to “shy” for so long. The majority makes the rules, but neither introverts nor extroverts are right or wrong—just different.

My Elon 101 class didn’t treat me differently as I had feared they would. I had already won their hearts. Knowing what made me tick didn’t scare them away because I was comfortable and true to myself. In my mind, I had succeeded in "fooling" everyone by acting like an extrovert, but really, it was all introverted me.

What felt like a lifetime of focus on me and my introverted traits in class was probably only a matter of minutes. Then we moved on. We continued to talk and laugh as we always had. No harm, no foul. I realized it was a fresh start. It was a chance for me to see that I didn't have to be defined as shy so long as I embraced introversion for what it really was and kept doing what I was doing— being my thoughtful and friendly self. I learned, just like Laney, that understanding who I am is the key to confidence. No more hiding.

I didn't make any long-term friendships from that class, but that's OK. It was all about helping each other make a difficult transition to new-found independence.

And to my former adviser: all is forgiven.

"Food Revolution" Does It Right

I'm totally hooked after the first couple of episodes of "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution." Not just because of Oliver's passion and penchant for annoying stubborn lunch ladies, but because Oliver is doing what so many aren't willing to do— educate.

This reality show follows British chef Jamie Oliver as he sets out to change the nation's eating habits starting in Huntington, W. Va., which has been called the unhealthiest city in the country. He wants to convince U.S. schools to prepare meals using fresh ingredients and eliminate the use of processed food. He wants to change the way people think about food and get them to make better choices. His hope is to start reducing childhood obesity, which is a major problem in the U.S. (see my previous blog).

Oliver beats his head up against a wall trying. From the lunch ladies who don't think change is reasonable  to the administration's red tape, Oliver proves that changing the way Americans think about food is hard work. Especially when guidelines for what constitutes "healthy" is clearly out of date.

How does a fried chicken sandwich and fries pass as healthy? And veggie stir fry with fruit jello fail? Apparently fries and the optional salad cover the veggie requirement and the stir fry veggies are too small of a portion. It's frustrating to watch Oliver fight what appears to be common sense, but he's so committed. "Food Revolution" is clearly Oliver's "baby."

One Huntington elementary school allows Oliver to observe and cook meals by his design for one week. All his tricks and skills bounce right off the kids who just want to eat pizza and the staff who have little money or policy backing to do otherwise.

Oliver tries to break kiddies' bad food perceptions, which would be funny if it weren't so scary. He gathers a group to demonstrate what goes in those yummy chicken nuggets they love, which of course, is meant to be a total gross out.

He takes what's left off a chicken (after the meat you're supposed to eat is cut off) and grinds it up together just like the manufacturers do.  This includes bones, tissue and whatever little scrapings of meat left over that you would assume goes in the trash . Not true.  Cue the eeeeewwwww.

Oliver sifts it all into a meat paste, which he shapes, tosses in bread crumbs and then throws it in the fryer. As it sizzles away, he victoriously inquires, who's ready to eat? His question is answered with raised hands and curious faces, volunteering as eager taste testers.

"I'll eat anything. I'm just hungry," replies one excited little girl. Oliver looks like a deer caught in the headlights who might be eaten afterward.

Yep, kids will eat anything. Except the stuff that's crucial for their health. And parents aren't helping. They pass on their own bad habits and don't make themselves aware of the school's food choices.

Oliver reaches out to help change the habits of one family where each member is overweight, if not already obese. He raids the cabinets and refrigerator, finding product after product of high-calorie, highly processed junk. Freezer packed with frozen pizza. Veggies scarcely found. Empty fast-food cup on a living room table.

This may sound like a judgement—wagging finger and all—of Huntington, but Oliver is careful to explain that's not his intention. It's a reflection of the entire country and includes his own (United Kingtom) in that message. He often speaks highly of the people and the Huntington area admitting that he just wants to make a change. And what better place to start than the one marked as impossible? Oliver's hope is a victory in the unhealthiest place will show the rest they can follow.

To be fair to Huntington's initial stubbornness, they felt attacked. No one likes to hear criticism from an outsider, a British celebrity chef, who's there to "fix" you although not Oliver's words. It's natural to push back. The city is located in one of the country's poorest states so it's easy to see how people may feel someone like Oliver is out of touch with their real circumstances. It's a fact. People don't like change.

But Oliver is sincere about wanting to give people the tools to make manageable changes for the sake of their health. As a parent, he is frustrated and gets teary-eyed at the sight of what has become the status quo of food for the first generation of kids who run the risk of living shorter lives than their parents. The elementary school he visits doesn't even serve food that should be eaten with a knife and fork because they have none. The cameras show the combativeness of school administration and staff, but are good to reveal that it's not always careless disregard, but lack of funding to provide better.A clear statement on what kind of food the kids are getting.

I was thrilled that the show addressed realistic issues such as budgets, or lack thereof, and forced Oliver to come up with tangible solutions for how to pursue his goal. How refreshing-- a reality show that actually deals with reality.

As a native West Virginian and former overweight person, I think this is a cause worth watching and backing. I had no idea how bad school meals had gotten. The parents Oliver reaches out to were oblivious. I am happy to see someone be ambitious enough to tackle this issue through education and inspiration.

I hope Huntington proves you don't need laws to make positive change because they will choose it themselves. It won't be easy, but if they're able to do it, there's hope for everyone else. I can't wait to watch more of this mini-series on ABC airing Fridays at 9 p.m.

Good and Bad Ways to Promote Healthy-Eating

The knowledge that fried and baked goodies are bad for our health is nothing new. People simply choose to ignore it. It’s a bad choice, but it’s theirs to make. Knowledge about calories and fat content is the best way to fight obesity, which we can do with the Food and Drug Administration’s help. The FDA recently required trans fats be listed with saturated fats on nutrition labels.

The United States has the luxury of being over-fed, which means we have to consider what we eat more seriously if we don’t want to balloon to new sizes. Over 30 percent of American adults are obese, although rates have not risen significantly over the last 10 years. More significant are studies that found large increases among children over the last 20 years. Obesity in ages 6–11 rose from 6.5 to 17 percent.

As a result, Michelle Obama announced plans to tackle childhood obesity by promoting healthy habits in small, reasonable steps. Major food suppliers have already agreed to use healthier ingredients for schools. She is also working to ban vending machine junk food in schools.

Given these recent studies, pushing schools to be more health conscious is the responsible thing to do. Children need guidance in order to develop their decision-making skills. However, I’m concerned with politicians, such as New York City Mayor Bloomberg, who are overstepping their boundaries elsewhere.

The government can wield its power in public schools—it’s their place. And possibly the only chance some kids have to learn healthy habits. But Bloomberg started a banning trend beyond the public sector. Currently, he is campaigning to get food manufacturers and restaurant chains nation-wide to lower the salt content in food. Another ban may be in progress given Bloomberg’s record so far.

In 2006, the New York City Board of Health, with Bloomberg’s avid support, became the first city to pass a trans fat ban requiring all packaged and restaurant foods do away with trans fat content. Businesses had to eliminate trans fats or face fines. Other cities and states, such as Philadelphia, Boston and California, followed this example, setting deadlines for their restaurants and bakeries to comply.

While trans fats are found naturally in some animal-based foods, others are the result of a process called hydrogenation—where hydrogen is added to liquid oils as they are turned into solids. Such solids include shortening and stick margarine, which are used to make any fried or baked foods. Trans fats give products a longer shelf life and flavor stability. However, they are also found to raise the levels of “bad” cholesterol, which increase chances of heart disease.

While the Bloombergs of the world think it’s better to change habits by force, Mrs. Obama’s initiative is ‘about balance.’ Her approach is a relief, which has been careful not to demand quick action and preach to parents. Her plan is about ‘small changes that can add up, like walking to school when you can, replacing soda with water or skim milk, trimming portions just a little.’ Her message teaches a variety of options, which is important if we want kids to accept and successfully maintain long-term, healthy living. It's more tangible this way.

Bloomberg and friends’ ban method is the food police in disguise. The government often thrives, and grows, on our fears—in this case, those ominous ingredients we can’t see, buried in our burgers and fries, making us fatter and sicker. The same people Bloomberg wants to help are likely to react to this demand with resentment and rejection.

His message, while loud and clear, falls on deaf ears. Unless Bloomberg is going to follow you around and slap the bag of Doritos out of your hand (and let’s hope it doesn’t come to that), bans won’t really be effective in fighting obesity. The obese will continue to be none the wiser on how to turn it all around. After all, adults can be just as stubborn as children, but none appreciate being treated as such.

In 2002, McDonald’s declared they would get rid of trans fat by February 2003, but failed to do so due to an operational problem. Consumers ate fries under the assumption they were made without trans fat. McDonald’s was sued for not properly informing the public of this failure to switch by the deadline. McDonald’s settled out of court and agreed to help with trans fat education and gave money to the plaintiffs and the American Heart Association.

McDonald’s should have been clearer about the unsuccessful change, but did people really think they were being healthier by eating trans fat-free fries?

It’s common knowledge that eating fast-food is fattening. The problem in this case was that the customer was misled. The customer may have passed on the fries had they known it still contained trans fat. Herein lies a solution to obesity—make sure information is readily available and accurate. No doubt McDonald’s learned its lesson from the trans fats debacle, but consumers haven’t. We don’t need the government to tell us what to eat if they ensure we stay informed. We’re not stupid—just lazy.

So why not educate and let the consumers decide? No doubt the calorie-obsessed culture would pressure businesses. It already has. People forget that McDonald’s volunteered to replace trans fat. Many food makers stopped using trans fats when the FDA started requiring companies to publish trans fat content on labels. They must have realized we’re more health conscious when the facts are staring back at us.

Our obesity fears shouldn’t allow the government to be a fill-in for lack of self-control. Mrs. Obama's engage and inform method provides better tools for long-term effects. I agree trans fats are bad and welcome non-trans fat options, but it should happen by choice. We’re capable of managing our own eating-habits. Bloomberg makes laws in “our best interest,” but good intentions can still be bad for our health.