Welcome to Fix It, our series where we explore projects we love, except for one small detail we wish we could change. Mean Girls, released in 2004, has gifted us with some of the most memorable comedic moments of the early 21st century. From “I’m not like a regular mom; I’m a cool mom” to “It’s like I have ESPN or something” and “She doesn’t even go here!” But there’s one joke that has always bothered me, not because it hasn’t aged well, but because it never made sense in the first place.
In the movie, Regina George, played by Rachel McAdams, asks the question that has become infamous: “Is butter a carb?” Lindsay Lohan’s character, Cady, responds with a look of pity-filled confusion, as if to say, “How could you not know this?” It’s meant to portray Regina as lacking nutritional knowledge. But here’s the thing: butter is not a carbohydrate. In fact, it’s 100% fat.
You are viewing: Is Butter a Carb? The Truth Behind the Mean Girls Joke
To confirm this, we turn to the extremely patient Dr. Pramod Khosla, a professor of nutrition and food science at Wayne State University. He explains that while there is a chemical difference between carbs and fats, there is also a difference in how our bodies metabolize them. While both provide energy, fat provides more energy than carbohydrates.
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According to the United States Department of Agriculture (U.S.D.A.) website, which is a reliable source for nutritional information, 100 grams of clarified butter consists of 100 grams of fat, 0 grams of carbohydrates, and 0 grams of protein. So, whether it’s clarified butter or your average salted dinner table butter, the main component is still fat, not carbs.
Now, you may wonder why Tina Fey, the brilliant mind behind Mean Girls, included this joke. Perhaps it was part of the plotline to undermine Regina’s pursuit of a “hot” body. Dr. Khosla suggests that the intention may have been to establish a certain perception of Regina. However, Lindsay Lohan’s delivery of the line doesn’t make it clear that this is the case.
The joke could have been improved with a slight tweak. Either Cady could have responded with a “duh” tone to indicate that butter is not a carb or she could have said “yes” in a way that showcases her scheming nature. However, neither option seems particularly funny. In fact, the latter option could be seen as dark.
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While the “Is butter a carb?” joke in Mean Girls is undeniably funny, it’s scientifically incorrect. It unintentionally adds an odd inconsistency to Cady’s character, suggesting that she genuinely believes butter is a carbohydrate. This has made me question my own understanding of butter’s nutritional value over the years.
But fear not, if you’ve ever felt puzzled by this scene, you’re not alone. Butter is indeed fat, not carbs. To confirm this, I consulted a real nutrition scientist, Dr. Pramod Khosla. Perhaps next time, there could be a trickier question or more reliable sources of information to explore. And as Dr. Khosla jokingly suggests, there are plenty of better resources for nutritional information than a Mean Girls clip.
In conclusion, Mean Girls continues to be a beloved movie, and the “Is butter a carb?” joke is an enduring part of its legacy. But let’s remember, butter is fat, not carbs. And now we can enjoy watching Mean Girls with a clearer understanding of this perplexing scene.
Source: https://t-tees.com
Category: Blog
