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OFM: Whats in your basket?:
Observer Food Monthly
OFM: Whats in your basket?: Donny Osmond, singer: Having to appear in a loincloth on Broadway sorted out Donnys diet, but he is short of protein, says
Dr John Briffa ~ 22 July 2007 ~ The Observer
In my teens I was a junk-food junkie. It was chips, whatever. But now I’m a grandpa and pushing 50, I’m really health-conscious. You know what changed me? When I started in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat on Broadway in 1992, I had to be in shape - I was wearing a loincloth. I did it for six years, so I was constantly in the gym, and aware of what I was eating. It set me on a good path.
I’m reading a book called The China Study . It’s the largest ever study on the proliferation of cancer and how nutrition plays a part. Wholegrains and green, leafy vegetables are what we should be eating, and it shows how bad animal protein is for you. This is the exact diet that we are asked to follow in the Mormon religion. No tea, alcohol or tobacco - we stay away from caffeine - and it says to eat whole grains and raw foods ‘in the season thereof’. And meat sparingly.
Even though Mom brought out the Osmond Brothers’ Mother’s Cookbook , she wasn’t the healthiest cook - lots of meat and fats. But I was always on the road, so whatever was on the hotel menu, that was it. Mainly the club sandwich. I’m the expert there, and I’ve just had one for lunch.
When I’m away from home, my wife Debbie keeps getting on at me about not eating. Here’s my problem. When I’m involved in a project I totally forget to eat, and often don’t have time. So I always carry a Melaleuca protein bar, which I get by mail order. I love them. I drink gallons of white grape juice, and I have fruit for breakfast. I love all fruit except for soft apples. No thank you! And I eat a tremendous amount of raspberries and blueberries. I can’t cook, but I make my own smoothies. I love live-culture yoghurt, strawberry or vanilla, and I top that with Trail Mix, all kinds of nuts - unsalted of course - with raisins. I sprinkle flaxseed over the mixture. And I make a mean peanut butter and banana sandwich.
I have a very weak stomach if it’s something I don’t like. I take a fish oil supplement along with the other vitamins, seven in all, but I just don’t like fish. Can’t eat sushi, not even a California roll. Can’t do it, I’ll just barf. I tried it the other night. Debbie said, ‘Come on, grow up!’ Took me to the restaurant, tried one. Had to leave. It’s the fishy taste.
And I love all vegetables, but don’t even offer me eggplant or okra. Disgusting! But I have a fetish for peas, raw peas. You know, pea pods you snap open and eat the raw peas? I can’t get enough of those. When I was doing Joseph in Chicago, I found a pea farmer and I asked him if I could rent his farm for a day. He said, ‘Come on over, you don’t need to rent it. Just bring some pictures for my wife and kids.’ So I walked away with 12 bags, and I ate every single one of them.
But my big treat would be Haagen-Dazs Chocolate Chocolate Chip ice cream. Hello! Hurt me! If I see it I have to have it, and I can eat a tub at one sitting. My last meal? A club sandwich, of course. Followed by a tub of Haagen-Dazs. OFM Love Songs Of The 70s (Decca/Mercury), by Donny Osmond, is out now
Copyright 2007. The Observer. All rights reserved.
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