# Is gravy bad for you? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 16, 2005, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-gravy-bad-for-you/308556 "2005-06-16T15:51:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MaryEFoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MaryEFoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaryEFoo)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-gravy-bad-for-you/308556/21 "2005-06-17T17:37:22Z")
In the “exchange diet\*” for diabetics, they recommend not using gravies and sauces. Most likely the reason for that is the uncertainty of what is in there; a gravy can contain from zero to two fat exchanges, and sauces like pesto can be about as fatty as butter, while other sauces may have completely varying amounts of sugars, carbs, and/or fats. Ever have biscuits and gravy for breakfast, at a diner? There’s well over a cup of gravy served, and from the cook’s point of view the purpose is to use up the bacon fat left from cooking bacon. They don’t necessarily have to restrain themselves to the 1 Tbsp flour, 1 Tbsp fat, 1 cup liquid proportion. \*The exchange diet involves you having an allowance of so many bread exchanges, so many meat exchanges, so many fat, so many fruit, etc. There’s a list of what is one exchange for each kind of food–I think a banana is two fruit exchanges, for instance. You choose the total number of exchanges based on how many calories you burn with your lifestyle, and the set-up makes it easier to get all your nutrition without fussy calorie calculations. So adding sauces during the day can add multiple fat exchanges the person isn’t aware of, and can put weight on, which for diabetics is inadvisable. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-gravy-bad-for-you/308556/22 "2005-06-17T18:22:53Z")
> [@Sophistry and Illusion](#): > > Then you ain’t makin’ proper Southern gravy. My wife makes sausage gravy and biscuits, and will often put a pound or more of sausage in the pan. It’s good enough to make a grown man cry, but I think I can say with some assurance that it is not healthy. I guess that’s why she only makes it once per year. Ah, now gravy with bits is a different notion. I make a hamburger gravy that will clog arteries at 10 paces. However, the typical turkey or beef gravy is generally mostly liquid. Gravy is considered a beverage in my family, so all bets are off anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Balle\_M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/13edae/32.png) [@Balle\_M](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balle_M)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-gravy-bad-for-you/308556/23 "2005-06-17T18:34:34Z")
How can gravy be bad for you? It’s one of the 4 basic West Virginia food groups: 1. Meat 2. 'taters 3. Gravy 4. Pie ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-gravy-bad-for-you/308556/24 "2005-06-17T20:18:17Z")
Only if you eat it. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-gravy-bad-for-you/308556/25 "2005-06-17T20:21:37Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > I would argue that it’s reasonably good for you because it’s mostly water. I like the way you think, **Shalmanese**. The next time I head for the gravy ladle, I will tell myself “Don’t stint on the hydration.” 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-gravy-bad-for-you/308556.md?page=1)