The Atkins Diet Schuylkill County Connection

Dear b.b.

I heard there is a connection between the Atkins diet and the County. Is that true?

Signed, Wondering

Dear Wondering:


I was flabbergasted to realize that there are people like you with neither a sense of history nor local pride. Did you not ever hear of the Atkins Mansion in Pottsville? From the ignorance shown in your letter it appears not.
What if I told you that Hope Tower (affectionately referred to as the Old Moose Building), located at South Centre and Mauch Chunk Streets was once a leading center for nutritional advancement? What if I told you that local hero Charles Atkins – the famed industrialist and Exalted Moose Lodge President- was a diet guru to boot? Would you believe me? Probably not.

Did you not ever hear of the controversial “Schuylkill food pyramid” promoted by Atkins but ridiculed by the so-called professionals? If you did not, I can probably guess what were you doing during your high school home economics class.

Atkins was a clear visionary; one not to be content with the typical 19th century diet. He thought that nutrition should be exalted as a true science, along with the other sciences, such as biology, botany and astrology. He researched the basic eating habits of his neighbors and developed his famous “Schuylkill Food Pyramid” which overturned many longstanding beliefs and rearranged the foods that we eat into basic building blocks. He arranged these blocks into pyramids after several failed attempts at parallelograms and circles. Circles were a disaster.
Many local residents, you and your like included, have forgotten that Atkins created this pyramid, as well as instituting the many changes in the way we eat today. So many of you take for granted the fact that we eat hoagies with two hands, a radical departure from the dining habits of the 19th century. You have Atkins to thank for that.
The foundation of his pyramid would no longer be the “serf diet” eaten by our ancestors, which consisted of porridge, gruel and turnips. From now on, the basic foods of the day would be the protein “building blocks.” Most of this protein could easily be obtained by a high consumption of hot dogs, scrapple, beef jerky, bologna, summer sausage and, of course, gravy.





Eggs were to be considered just as important as the meats. Atkins espoused the nutritional value of pickled eggs that float in jars for days in barrooms; eggs that you and so many other ignoramuses eat without ever given a thought to the creator while in a local tavern.
Poultry was also important. Atkins touted the nutritional benefits of eating both city chicken and Buffalo wings. In fact, he started the first Wing Night in the county. A proud tradition carried on to this day where young adults can consume as many chicken wings (dipped in bleu cheese or ranch dressing) as possible at a greatly reduced price.





As for legumes and beans, they were only to be consumed if they were made into a soup and served at a block party and washed down with healthy cold beer, which he thought to be a magical elixir which cured most ailments as well as increased one’s self-confidence and ability to attract the opposite sex.
Seafood was considered taboo due to his fears of high mercury content. In fact, the only seafood he proposed be eaten was a small amount of Swedish fish, which are soft and chewy and are similar to gummy bears in shape and texture. They have a flavor that lasts from head to tail. Many of you may remember that these Swedish fish were quite popular at the Capitol and Hollywood Theatres years ago. You have Atkins to thank for that.
Moving upwards on the pyramid, we find the good carbos such as bleenies and Tasteycakes. Bleenies eaten on a paper plate or paper napkin provided an individual with sufficient fiber to keep oneself regular and avoid constipation, thereby eliminating the necessity for fruit and vegetables. If one gives in to temptation and wanted to indulge in fruits, then Raisinets, peach snapps, and Fruit Loops taken separately or together were acceptable. The only vegetable permitted is tobacco.
Climbing to the top, you reach the dairy products level; important for the calcium to make the strong bones and strong teeth needed to work in the Pottsville steel mills. For this he recommended Eskimo Pies, Fudgesicles, Reddi Whip, Cheese Whiz and Milk Duds.
Lastly Wondering, Atkins also cautioned his male compatriots that there was one food that should be avoided at all costs, and that was, of course, “the wedding cake.” It is a pity that so many failed to adhere to his warning.
That is the story behind the Atkins Diet: Schuylkill Style.