Food & Drink

Harvard professor claims you should only eat six chips at a time as a 'healthy' portion

A LEADING nutrition expert has claimed that the only way to enjoy a "healthy" portion of chips is by eating just six in any one serving.

Eric Rimm, a professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public health made the claims in an article for The New York Times.

Referring more specifically to the Americanised french fry, Professor Rimm described chips in their various form as a "weapon of dietary destruction".

He pointed to the damage done by chips/fries to the human body, citing the increased risk of diabetes and obesity associated with the foodstuff.

Rimm went on to explain that if diners insisted on indulging in these "starch bombs" was not recommended.

Eat more than 6 French fries and risk your life, says this Harvard professor https://t.co/dCCOpoKcIj pic.twitter.com/pw9mVn0Mpv

— New York Post (@nypost) December 5, 2018

However, he did note that if someone really, truly, insisted on indulging in a chip, fry or potato-based accompaniment of their choosing, they should try and limit their intake.

The Harvard aacademic advised chip lovers to restrict themselves to just six chips.

Or, more specifically, six French fries, which probably equates to about three chips from an Irish chipper. Three chips from an Irish chipper!

"I think it would be nice if your meal came with a side salad and six French fries," he wrote.

It wasn't long before the story got picked up by chip/fry lovers on Twitter, who were up in arms over the recommendations.

Some were angry...

“I think it would be nice if your meal came with a side salad and six French fries.” This is why academics are the first to be rounded up and targeted under dictatorships https://t.co/kqIfFPiu4i

— Jennine #SaveSheikhJarrah #SaveSilwan (@jennineak) December 4, 2018

Others questioned the man behind the study...

This guy must be fun to go to a diner with...at least you could steal his fries! But what sort of person shares this outlook during latke season? #carbs #fat #potato #oil #diet #HappyHanukkah #frenchfries https://t.co/7PU79EKuKt

— Jenny Lyn Bader (@JennyLynBader) December 5, 2018

There were those that closed their ears to the claims...

I don't have time for this kind of negativity in my life right now https://t.co/zFCFvhKMD2

— Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) December 4, 2018

The suggestion brought back happy memories for a few...

Everyone knows that you need three French fries bundled together and jammed into a thing of ketchup for everyone one bite of whatever non-French fry thing you’re eating. https://t.co/cm1EhjgIrj

— Ryan Broderick (@broderick) December 4, 2018

Others felt the suggestion was a tad unrealistic...

A few even went as far as branding the whole thing as something close to insanity...

What kind of MAD MAN would want six french fries? I get it, they are bad for you, but eating SIX sounds like torture. I’d rather not have them at all. But we all know that’s not going to happen. 🍟 pic.twitter.com/dDT4HYjNUF

— Nat Lockett, Bisexual Horror 🏳️‍🌈 (@nat_lockett) November 29, 2018

The sums didn't quite add up for a few people out there...

If we’re only supposed to eat six french fries per serving I’ve overeaten
*checks math*
one zillion french fries

— Charlene deGuzman (@charstarlene) December 5, 2018

A Harvard professor says one portion of fries should only contain 6 fires! Excuse me, but I’m just getting started with six fries!! 😳😬 #GMC @WEWS pic.twitter.com/fn7pWGFc1A

— Katie Ussin (@KatieUssin) December 3, 2018

Hats off to one guy who came up with a clever way around the problem though...