Heart and Mind

Okay ...
So I am older than I want to admit.
And my blood pressure is constantly elevated.
And my cholesterol levels are slightly high.
And I forget to take my medicines ... sometimes

Okay ...
So I am not supposed to eat a lot of things
And I don't exercise at all
And I suck at stress management
And I am overweight ... a little

So, I was just minding my own business walking down the street, on the way home one evening. Food was the farthest thing from my mind. But then again, in Manila, walking down the street is like walking through a gauntlet of food carts.

Then - suddenly, out of nowhere - there it was in front of me !
















Crispy chicken skin - ohhhhhhhhhh no ... my most favorite thing in the world.

Also known as chicharong manok, chink or chicken crackling - this most "paborits" of snacks is chicken skin (and fat) that is sun dried, seasoned and deep fried to crispiness.
Eaten with spicy vinegar - crispy chicken skin is totally crispylicious.

Logic, previous medical consults, and Google say that chicken skin equals fat equals cholesterol.

So, I was stumped.
Should I risk it?
Who should I listen to - - - my doctors, or this industrious, kind, entrepreneurial young man who is just trying to make a living to support his young wife and their three children the youngest of whom is sick with the flu and who is badly in need of medicine; and who would benefit tremendously from the thirty pesos he could make if I bought three servings of his wonderfully golden brown crisped chicken skin to be dipped in spicy, onion-chili vinegar.

I will leave it up to you to guess who won the battle for my heart and mind

I can only tell you that I went to sleep that evening with a big smile on my face, contented that I had done the right thing.