I've always been one of those for whom the word "diet" refers to a religious conference. Still, as a member in good standing of my culture, I know in passing that there are ways in which people fool themselves into eating less.
Tonight's menu, from the buffet at our guest house, included bread, rice, noodle casserole, curried potatoes, and french fries. I watched the staff (all locals) load up their plates with all of these.
I have seen precisely one fat Afghan.
. . .
Some of the meat is wonderful, most of the vegetables are overcooked, oil douses most things: don't come to Afghanistan for the food. The food isn't bad, but it is fattier than what I normally try to eat and you eat the raw vegetables at your peril.
I quite like the bread, especially with a little peanut butter - which, as of 2004 but not before, you can buy in many shops.
Posted by Martial