We always hear about the obesity epidemic in America: It’s a major issue! People are dying! Fat people are evil! While it’s true that being overweight can lead to serious health problems, it is not true that being overweight automatically means being unhealthy.

Which explains the new “Fat Acceptance” movement that is spreading across the country. Activists and supporters of this movement are screaming from the rooftops that being fat is OK, and as long as people are making good choices to support a healthy lifestyle it should not matter what size pants they wear.

And I totally concur. I cannot tell you how sick I am of salads, fad diets and feeling guilty when I want a Potbelly Oreo Shake so badly I could punch someone. So, you know what? I’m joining this movement and I urge you to do the same. Stop kicking yourself for enjoying a hot dog at your football tailgate. Stop crying after a late night pizza binge.

Put down that carrot and join me in embracing ourselves, no matter what size we are. And what is the best way to do that? By enjoying some of life’s most delectable treats. Come on, it’s OK; fat is in!

Pumpkin Muffin from Dunkin Donuts

It’s the fall, so you have to have at least one. And trust me – it is totally worth it.

Oreo Cakesters

Like the real thing but bigger, softer and so much more delicious

Dairy Queen Blizzard (specifically, the Cheesequake)

OMG THESE THINGS ARE SO GOOD I COULD JUST DIE. No joke.

Cheese Fries

There is nothing better than fried potatoes smothered in cheese. Especially when you don’t care how fatty they are.

Big Mac

Beef: goooood. Cheese: Gooood. Bun: Gooood.

[Main photo courtesy of the NYTimes.]

You know what would really spice that meal up? Onion rings! Unfortunately, those little rings of fried goodness are not always an option when you’re eating at your favorite hamburger joint. And you cry.

But wipe those tears, sister. Say TTFN to that restaurant and head home to whip up your own tasty onion rings. Why not? They’re delish, easy…and they involve beer!

Here’s what you need:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

Pinch of cayenne pepper

3/4 cup buttermilk

3/4 cup beer

1 large egg

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

3 cups vegetable oil

2 large white onions, sliced into rings

How to get to onion ring heaven:

1) First, combine your flour, salt and cayenne pepper in a medium bowl and whisk in the buttermilk, beer, egg, and lemon zest.

2) Now heat your vegetable oil in a heavy sauce pan over medium heat. Dip several of the onions into your batter to generously coat them.

3) Place the coated onions into the oil and cook for about 2-3 minutes, turning once. Make sure they’re nice and golden brown. Remove the onions and place them on a paper towel to soak up the excess oil.

4) Season with salt and lemon (if you want) and dig in! Of course these onion rings are best with a big juicy burger, but I’ve been known to eat a plate of them on their own. What? Onions are a vegetable. And if I use enough ketchup, I get a full serving of tomato, too!

You should also have some beer left (lots if you bought a 6-pack!) and what’s something that goes just as well with hamburgers as onion rings? Beer, of course. I’m pretty sure life does not get better than this.

Since nothing makes me hungrier than watching other people exert themselves, I’ve devised the perfect Olympics Dinner. It’s Team USA themed, scores a 10 in the taste factor, and is relatively easy to make. Join me in celebrating athleticism with decidedly non-heathly food, won’t you?

Go Team USA! Dinner:

All American Hamburgers:

2 stalks of celery

2-3 pads of butter

Ground meat (enough to serve 4)

1/4 cup breadcrumbs

1 ounce package McCormick gravy mix (or some other kind)

Preheat your oven to 400F

In a skillet, saute your celery for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat

Take out a bowl and combine the celery, the breadcrumbs, the gravy mix, and the meat

With the rest of your butter, brown your 4 burgers on one side in the skillet (2-4 minutes ish)

Put your burgers in the oven for about 15 minutes

Take those babies out, put them on toasted buns, and fix ‘em up the way you like!

Freedom Fries

3-4 Yukon Gold potatoes

2 tablespoons olive oil

salt / pepper / dried rosemary and thyme

Preheat your oven to 425F

Spread oil on a large baking pan

Wash your potatoes, peel them, and cut them into fry strips

Salt, pepper, rosemary and thyme your potatoes to taste

Put them in the baking pan, on the lower rack in your oven, for 40 minutes

Turn them over halfway through and cook until golden brown and delish

George Washington’s Favorite Individual Apple Pies

(this recipe is courtesy of Recipezaar)

Ingredients

1 (17 ounce) package puff pastry

12 ounces cut up red baking apples (approx. 2 medium sized apples)

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

2 teaspoons flour

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 beaten egg

Directions

Thaw puff pastry according to directions on package

Peel, core and chop apples up coarsely

Combine apples with sugar, flour, lemon juice, cinnamon and nutmeg

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Flour surface lightly and cut pastry sheet into nine 3×3 squares.

Place approximately 1/4 cup apple mixture on each square and brush edge with beaten egg.

Place second pastry square on the top of the already filled pastry to form a pocket.

Press down border with fingers to seal and then press with fork to decorate the edges.

Make a 1-inch L shape incision into each pie and fold back the pastry flap.

Place on ungreased cookie sheet and give each one an egg wash.

Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until golden.

[This meal is best enjoyed while watching the shot put. Just kidding. Nothing is best enjoyed while watching shot put. Most boring summer Olympic sport EVER]