The Sheltered Life

I guess I can't say my food-filled life has been one of complete shelteredness, and perhaps I never fully realized the extent to which my health conscious lifestyle has guided my decisions, but seriously, it never ceases to amaze me at how utterly terribly my fellow peers and elders eat. No one is perfect in their diet but I expect more from from people today. I never realized how well commercials work, how convincing and tempting a $1 burger can be, nor how little people care about what they put into their bodies. 

I see a fast food commercial and think "No one who looks like these athletes and superstars actually eats this kind of food; and who would anyway after hearing how terrible it is for you anyway? People must know better, right?"

Wrong. Oh so wrong.

Turns out convenience and price heavily beat out nutritional value and, for that matter, self respect. Turns out Lean Cuisine eaters really think they're eating healthfully simply because the word "lean" is on the packaging. The same can be said of those nutritionally rich Lean Pockets. And what's more, they're 2 for $2! Talk about a steal. Who cares if the cheese is gummy from additives that lessen the fat? So what if the pepperoni is enhanced with sodium nitrate, BHA, BHT and lactic acid starter culture? And who DOESN'T add their own Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate and artificial colors to their home-cooked meals? At least it's got fewer calories.

I'm trying to say I'm pretty sickened by our culture and our loss of respect for what we put into our one and only body. I know financially we're a little tight, but what else is more important than what nourishes our body? What are we pinching those pennies for that trumps feeling energized and satisfied after a meal rather than bloated and sluggish? I believe that if we were meant to eat preservatives and food colorings and flavor enhancers, we would see them individually for sale all over the grocery shelves and we would be watching TV chefs adding a dash of disodium guanylate, xanthan gum or cochineal extract to their gourmet dishes. Fortunately this hasn't happened yet. Sadly, I doubt it would faze the majority of the population if it did.

 

So what's my solution? I vote for eating like we did before all of these restaurants and packaged foods came to be; eating ingredients that were developed in the soil and grew to be beautiful, natural gems for us to consume. I'd even advocate for eating some meat in moderation (though I'd likely recommend Alaskan salmon above anything else with eyes). It's hard and it's a change, but what in life isn't? So many Americans are so lazy with their food and it really makes me sad. Not to mention frustrated, obviously. So here you will find my personal opinions, reviews and picks & pans of the food I encounter. I'm too tired to write anymore right now, but look forward to locally-owned Portland restaurant reviews, Amy's meals reviews, Annie's products, Whole Foods Market, New Seasons Market and a plethora more. 

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