THE BREAKDOWN

• As fans will tell you, this is a big roti. It measures 15 centimetres by 15 centimetres (six inches by six inches) and weighs 683 grams (1.5 pounds).

• Its 1,181 calories is more than half of what the average man needs in a day, while its 38 grams of fat is nearly half a man’s recommended daily allotment. The average man requires about 80 grams of fat a day and the average woman needs about 60 grams.

• The 2,458 milligrams of sodium is like sprinkling a generous teaspoon of salt on your meal. Nutrition experts recommend consuming no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day.

• How does it stack up (calorie-wise, not necessarily taste-wise) to other chicken meals? The roti is the calorie-equivalent of eating 3-1/2 Harvey’s grilled chicken sandwiches garnished with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise. It’s also the same as eating 28 Chicken McNuggets from McDonald’s.

• For a whole meal comparison, consider that Swiss Chalet’s quarter chicken dinner (the white meat option) served with a multi-grain roll and a loaded baked potato has 780 calories, 25 grams of fat and 880 milligrams of sodium — that’s 400 fewer calories than what’s found in the roti.

Not me banna, I doan eat chicken, now had they said strimps roti, then we talkin'

And the Trinis responded........so don't mess wid dem Roti and curry!!

Trinis outraged as roti declared too big for one meal

The Toronto Star found itself on the wrong side of West Indians, mainly Trinidadians, when its health reporter declared that a roti was too big and too high in calories to be consumed in one meal.

Megan Ogilve, The Toronto Star's health reporter and host of a show called The Dish, featured the roti in a story three days ago supposedly in response to viewers who wanted to know if it is an everyday meal or a once in a while treat.

The roti featured is a chicken roti from Ali's in Toronto. 

Pronouncing the item as 'roadie", Ogilvie sought to prove that a roti is too much to be eaten in one sitting.

"This roti is 636 grammes," she said after measuring it on a scale. "That's like one and a half pounds of food. Would you put one and a half pounds of food in your tummy?" she asked.

She said their official results show that a roti has 1200 calories, which she said is the equivalent of eating 28 chicken McNuggets.

Ogilvie recommended that roti lovers cut their rotis in half, leaving the other half for another meal. 

The video, which had over 150,000 views and over 2000 shares on Facebook, did not go down well with the diaspora and Trinis at home.

"How can anyone possibly compare a big, fat, Spicy, juicy hand made roti to lab prepared, dutty chemical chicken nuggets? I'll take the 63g of protein in a hand made "roadie" from someone's kitchen any day as I know it's well seasoned and will fill my belly the entire day and make me not want for anything else. Maybe stick to reporting on unseasoned processed burgers and fries and stop analyzing what we eat," said one irate viewer.

"Megan Ogilvie.. Good reporting begins with Good Pronunciation... secondly You and the Toronto Star just insulted a entire culture . We grew up loving this Roti and it's still too this day made from ALL NATURAL ingredients. Its shows that You Do not understand other cultures nor respect their food... There are dishes at "Canadian" restaurants that serve up a much processed 2000 plus calorie in same one serving! BTW its pronounced ROO-TI. Not Rodie SMH," said another.

Anothe rviewer said: "Megan Ogilvie. This is not good reporting at all. Do some more research and find out the ingredients and what 1200cal is giving you before comparing it to chicken nuggets. How would you like it if someone compared your country's main dish to garbage food that are known for having filler and empty calories. You as a reporter only did part of your job. Get nutritional facts. I also think you owe Ali's Roti an apology. This is a huge FAIL."

http://www.looptt.com/content/...red-too-big-one-meal

Roti war

But the Trini roti is real big...I usually eat half the dhall puri (without anything in it) at one sitting

Shanta's dhall puri wid lil bit mango sour was just the right taste and size wid a puma fo ah snack 

I am making chicken curry and roti today, a special request from my Princess.

Hmmm maybe i should invite myself over to eat that nice food.  One of my favorite dishes 

Just got in from Haileybury..two hrs North of North Bay. Made the trip in 6hrs even after stopping for a pee break and a quick bite to eat.Soon I'm having me some smoked salmon in maple syrup..yummmm!

Salmon and syrup? My stomach can't handle that combo.

Just had it with smoked gouda cheese....cast iron stomach.

You gotta try our Guyana brown sugar brine freshly caught smoke salmon. We have to keep our kids [and dem black bears] away before they finish it all, until its finished smoking.

We can blow  a seal easier, dan trying to light dem darn thing to smoke like a Clipper unfiltered cigarette.