By Roberta Genét
With nutrition and diet at the forefront on Oprah Winfrey shows, and with weight loss programs even showing up as TV reality shows, there’s definitely been more attention being paid to the issue of obesity in our country. Mr. Oliver from England worked with a couple of counties here in the states to try and get healthier food to be served in school cafeterias and in homes as well.
Has the ball been dropped? And have people gone back to their old habits? Wen I go to the supermarket, I’ve notice what’s in some carts. I feel sad and kind of appalled at the amount of soda, chips, and other unhealthy items that pass for food or drink.
There have got to be as many reasons for obesity as there are people who become obese. Metabolism plays a role, but more so the “convenience” items that are offered as food: the fast foods that have more fillers than anything else, that have chicken parts, low quality protein, etc. It’s understandable that if both parents have to work to make ends meet, there’s often not much energy left for cooking at the end of a day. While the food they eat may be convenient, it usually doesn’t provide much real nourishment, and a steady diet of fast foods negatively affects the mind and the body.
The saying “You are what you eat” is as true as “You are what you think.” Not everyone seems to really get that, and I find that to be disheartening. It’s sad that we have become such slaves to money that the original values of eating together as a family, or of knowing which foods healthy, for example, have been blown away by the winds of fear, greed, false advertising, or just plain lack of imagination.
Why don’t more people see the connection between what and how they eat and their illnesses? Do they just keep giving their power away to pharmacists and doctors rather than starting a revolution from within? If they are lucky, a good doctor will prescribe a different diet, and give clues on what they can healthfully eat, and what needs to be eliminated. If they are not so lucky, the doctor will prescribe drugs – more and more drugs, without addressing the cause. And still the connection is not made.
I believe there is an emptiness, and a spiritual lack that occurs when there’s so much isolation, and when parents have to work two or three jobs to make ends meet. Lives become unbalanced, and the joy of cooking or eating as a family goes by the wayside. Youngsters may go their own way, especially in a household where the parents don’t even get home by 5 p.m. Too much work is not healthy, and constant worry over money drains everyone. Food can easily be used to stuff feelings, or as an attempt to fill the void that comes from either no or little real communication (there’s not much time for that).
So what about nutrition? There are so many articles and so many resources available. People could go online (e.g. Dr. Mercola) or to the library and take out many books about foods and food remedies. Some might even wish to see a nutritionist (there are several here in Colorado Springs).
I guess part of the problem with our food or nonfood situation is that we as humans don’t like change. Fast foods made their way into our everyday lives, offering convenience and no need to cook at home. It was all exciting and “glamorous” at first, and the American public got “suckered in to another lie. The word “natural” could mean anything, and has led people to believe that it’s all okay. Some of it now is, as certain fast food places, such as Chipotle, offer hormone-free and organic food.
I can always hope that more people will educate themselves about nutrition and what’s healthful for their bodies, and also hope that more people will make healthier choices for themselves and for their children.
Anyway, it’s National Nutrition month — we should have a parade. Is anyone interested in promoting and establishing a parade? It would feature all the good green foods, fruits, vegetables, proteins, healthy starches – just think.
If St. Patrick’s day parade can feature green beer, why not have another parade featuring green foods??? I like that idea. If anyone has any comment, you can reach me at (719) 310-2733.
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