Do you know what the best sandwich in the world is? If you even thought of anything other than a Cuban sandwich, you are woefully mistaken. This particular sandwich is a delightfully American creation starting in Tampa (or Miami, or Key West, depending on who you ask). Cuban sandwiches are fairly simple: ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, mustard, and pickles. In Tampa, likely due to the influence of the Italian immigrants, the sandwich also has salami on top of everything else.

The bread comes in 36 inch loaves and the bakers add lard (or vegetable shortening, now) to the mix, which yields a flaky, crisp crust.

I’m a fan of it, not just for the taste, but because it reminds me of how deep our food preferences go and how ideas are born based on location and the idea follows the members of the community.

Since I’m a fitness writer (I guess) I tend to hang out with colleagues who happen to not be complete and utter morons.

Their numbers, however, are small. I don’t have any stats or figures regarding the ratio of morons to competent fitness professionals, but go to a gym during the first week of January and talk to any given trainer employed by that gym. You’ll leave asking yourself “Do they give certifications out to just anyone?” (Yes, pretty much. If she put her mind to it, a five year old could get one).

Oftentimes these gyms and their employees run challenges, usually based on weight loss, and not based on keeping lean body mass or anything important like that. They’ll prescribe meal plans that suck, that often require the elimination of literally anything fun in life (like Cuban sandwiches).

I say all this to advise you to steer clear of those people. If anyone or any practice impedes on things you enjoy, get rid of them. They’re not worth your time. This holds true especially if they impede on your cultural heritage.