'Brigadao for sharing JA!

Good to read Brazil was a feast for the eyes and the soul, but what a shame your appetite missed the buffet...?

There are tons of excellent options other than beef in Rio, particularly in Leblon and Ipanema, including sushi and vegetarian options and even French-inspired bistros, high on style but low on calories, and certainly delicious! I'd even argue that Brazilians' diets are far healthier than our fast-food and outlandishly grand portion-obsessed nation and the proof is in the padding - just look at the rate of obesity in this country!!!

At any rate, perhaps on your subsequent visit, you too can have the pleasure of dining at one of the healthier non-carne choices Rio has on her plate.

thanks for your report. i would like for you to add a few more details to your trip report.

i find your comment about pig intriguing, as i cannot eat beef. i have aways had a hard time finding pork, even in the grocery stores. there is also a large Jewish population in rio, if that is what you mean about food restrictions due to religion.

i find the way we eat in rio to be very

healthy. i eat a lot of chicken, frango. many good restaurants serve frango. even in the grocery stores have rotisserie chickens. there is plenty of whole wheat and whole grain bread sold in the grocery stores, also. the fresh fruit is unlimited and can be found every day at the farmers markets all over rio. the mangoes and pineapples are so juicy and straight from the farms and trees. fresh, cold coconut milk is served at all the beach cabanas. and the fruit bars!!! they seem to be on every corner. you can have some of the healthiest meals there every day. and ACAI. there is nothing better for your health than acai.

You're right PLo!! I forgot about all the juicebars I went to practically daily; they even have the energy and protein mixes to blend with them... And I finally tried a bit of the Muse's Acai last trip, can't quite say I liked it, but I could tell it was good for me... :-)

BFG BABY!!!!!

i'm goin home 4 september. will probably be there through april. what is your time line?? will helen and i see you????

Yessir!!! I touchdown on January 23, 2009! And I'm counting down even though I'm sporting a tan from 3 weeks in the Carribean... Just goes to show, there's NO PLACE Like "home"!! :-)

Looking forward to meeting ya both!

BRAVO!!!!!! i can see a party comin together!!

Ah Aerolineas Argentinas, whose motto is 'sempre arribe' but poses the obvious rejoinder 'mas quando?'

They have a terrible reputation which is pretty well deserved. They frequently dump flights or turn up late and it's worse on their Pacific routes. LAN do something similar, neglecting to tell their passengers that they will be dumping them in Santiago because of their maintenance schedules. They know this weeks ahead but if your lucky they'll tell you on the plane or as once happened to me as you headed for the transit lounge, expecting to change planes in Santiago. Aerolineas do have the edge though when it comes to sour faced and unhelpful staff.

As for healthy eating well I'm sorry but it's perfectly possible to eat healthily in Brazil, you simply need to know what to order and where. As a proportion of the population there are a lot less obese Brazilians than there are Americans. If you think your options are limited as a vegetarian try Argentina.

Yes, I'm sure there were healthy restaurants or menus that I could have chosen from, but unlike other places I've visited, English is not a second language in Brazil. Even those who seem to speak it well, still have a difficult time understanding what you are asking for. So, since we spoke no Portuguese, it was difficult to communicate alternatives to what was on the menu. I can imagine they experience the same frustration when they come to the U.S. and can't communicate.

Overall, though, the food issues did not ruin my trip. How could it when I was surrounded by beauty? Also, I found Brazilians to be very nice people. They all seem so happy and fun. They also seemed quite pleased when I tried speaking Portuguese. It motivated me to improve my Spanish. Having lived in South Florida, my limited Spanish helped me more than English. So, I figure, if I improve my Spanish, it will be easier for me to learn the beautiful language of Portuguese!

You should have tried the kilo restaurants where you pay by the weight. Everything is at the buffet so you don't need to speak the language. They have a big variety and you can choose to have just salads and a grilled chicken breast fillet or even rice and beans. It is not only possible but easier to eat healthy when you see what you are getting and are able to control the quantity. Just help yourself to as much or as little as you want.

"I don't think they have caught up with America, as far as healthy eating."

What an outrageous comment

Anyone who visits Brazil with their eyes wide open will notice the abundance of fresh fruit, natural juices (squeezed rather than processed), grilled meats, and wide variety of vegetables, not to mention smaller (much smaller) portion sizes. When you compare the types of foods and how they are prepared you to the US you will see why the prevalence of obesity is lower in Brazil compared to the US.

If someone can't find something they like it's only due to a limited palate. Even a friend who eats strictly kosher is happy with the food in Rio. White bread instead of whole wheat or whole grain? First of all, most of the whole grain is no different in terms of glycemic index or calories. It's just marketed to be "whole". Second, calories are calories. Second, it does cost more to buy the unrefined flour.

If you didn't lose weight in Brazil, it's only because you were eating what your body needed.

Most restaurants do serve plates for two, but it seems that at any level of income you can eat better than in the US. BrazilRio's comment on the por kilo is spot on, take what you want. How these can be missed is beyond me since the are ubiquitous in Brazil. Happy eating.