This weekend, I took part in two Passover Seder demonstrations. Both were good times, but I must say that back-to-back Seder meals are not part of a recipe for losing weight.
It’s a lot of calories, when you think about it. Four glasses of grape juice, about 170 calories per glass; that’s 680 calories right there. Add in the ceremonial foods (especially the charoset) and you can bump that up to at least 900 calories before the main course is even served.
On Saturday, I had roast chicken as my main course… passing on the great-looking but calorie-loaded alternative main course, a cream chicken casserole. There was also a caramel ice cream desert. Even by toning down on the main course, I had a cheese-and-water-crackers appetizer earlier in the evening, so we’re probably looking at a 1700 calorie night at best. Add in Oneg after service on Shabbat and it’s no wonder I gained nearly a half-pound. Probably fortunate I didn’t gain more.
On Sunday, my main course was more sensible; a 4-ounce salmon fillet served on a wonderful rice pilaf. But then there was the ice cream, strawberries and fudge desert, so it wasn’t perfect… but I had no other major meals and snacked less throughout the day… Sunday I probably came in under 1300 calories for the meal and not much more for the day… maybe 1600 calories.
Still, to diet and lose weight, one needs to stick between 1000 to 1250 calories; so, as I said, a Seder is no friend to the dieting person. Fortunately, a Seder feast is only an annual event, even if I do tend to celebrate it twice during the season!