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My wife & I have been consciously helping our kids lower their sugar intake & make healthier choices.
Since taking on this effort, we have deliberately shopped differently. The kids can't eat what isn't in the house.
We buy foods lower in sugar but still gives them choices. /1
Since taking on this effort, we have deliberately shopped differently. The kids can't eat what isn't in the house.
We buy foods lower in sugar but still gives them choices. /1
We buy less food overall. We buy a lot more "fresh" foods-- basically shopping the outer edge of the store:vegetation, deli cuts, meats, cheeses, some frozen items.
We buy them higher quality foods. Higher quality usually equates to fewer "fillers" as fillers usually=sugar. /2
We buy them higher quality foods. Higher quality usually equates to fewer "fillers" as fillers usually=sugar. /2
Here's the rub: buying fewer groceries but higher quality groceries -- essentially what everyone would agree is healthier foods -- my grocery costs have increased more than 30%.
I'm not complaining. We can afford it. But not everyone can. And that's a big problem. /3
I'm not complaining. We can afford it. But not everyone can. And that's a big problem. /3
In this modern age, it is cheaper to buy sugar and chemical-laden sodas and snacks than it is to buy fruits, vegetables, cheeses and meats.
But that's not the only resource we need to think through. The hidden problem here is this: few people have time to cook. /4
But that's not the only resource we need to think through. The hidden problem here is this: few people have time to cook. /4
Convenience foods (fast food, casual food, pre-made packaged foods) generally are "cheap" and not time restrictive. Don't have time to cook dinner for the kids? Order a pizza. It's cheap and fast. Or maybe go thru a drive-thru. Cheap and fast.
"Cheap and fast" = unhealthy /5
"Cheap and fast" = unhealthy /5
This is systemic problem around health. We ask employees to spend as much time as possible working -- 50, 60 hours a week is not uncommon.
That cuts into family time -- less time to eat together, less time to cook for the family.... less time to shop for the family. /6
That cuts into family time -- less time to eat together, less time to cook for the family.... less time to shop for the family. /6
Add to that the chemical addiction created by cheap foods (food scientists jobs are literally to figure out how to ensure people will continue to eat their foods regardless of how satisfied one might be)....
It's the perfect storm of societal unhealthiness. /7
It's the perfect storm of societal unhealthiness. /7
There is no easy fix. Could you simply buy local & solve this? In one sense, yes, if EVERYONE bought local, less processed foods, it would start to solve the issue.
But we no longer have the infrastructure for that
If tomorrow everyone bought local, there wouldn't be enough /8
But we no longer have the infrastructure for that
If tomorrow everyone bought local, there wouldn't be enough /8
This is a complicated, systemic problem. There are very large, mega-corporations that rely upon the current model. Pull the rug out, they'd go under and we'd have mass unemployment.
It's even more complicated than that. /9
It's even more complicated than that. /9
If we closed all fast food places, it's the lower socioeconomic groups that would suffer. They'd have fewer income opportunities. They have fewer food choices at their income ranges and we'd increase hunger problems.
There's more.... /10
There's more.... /10
If people go back to cooking primarily rather than rely upon pre-made meals and snacks, that increases their time demands. There is an offset for that -- either fewer hours at work or less personal free time. Both of those have economic impacts, too.
It's all complicated. /11
It's all complicated. /11
But that's NOT to say that it's not worth figuring out. In fact, just the opposite. I feel like if we DON'T figure it out, we're going to regress as a society.
It's not going to be one policy change nor one innovation that fixes this -- it's going be hundreds of each. /12
It's not going to be one policy change nor one innovation that fixes this -- it's going be hundreds of each. /12
And, in a free market, those changes and innovation come from one driver: money. We need to find the people and businesses who can drive profitability while at the same time aiding people in eating better and getting healthier. It's a long journey but it has to start now. /13
Okay, I'm off my soapbox.... with one last comment. I'm going to be very consciously supporting business that support healthier lifestyles: healthier for their customers, healthier for their employees and healthier, overall, for society. It's one small step....but it's mine. /14
